Norway's Northug, Bjoergen win last World Cup race

Mar 21, 2010 - 4:02 PM FALUN, Sweden(AP) -- Double Olympic champion Petter Northug of Norway ended his impressive season by winning the last cross-country race of the World Cup calendar Sunday.

The 23-year old Norwegian won the 15-kilometer handicap race in 44 minutes, 30.8 seconds, entering the ski stadium in Falun with a big enough lead to slow down and wave to the cheering crowd. Northug, who had already secured the overall World Cup title, finished 3.4 seconds ahead of runner-up Maurice Manificat of France.

Sweden's Marcus Hellner was third, 11 seconds behind, after being overtaken by Manificat just before the final straight.

Triple Olympic champion Marit Bjoergen of Norway won the women's 10K handicap race to move into second in the overall standings.

She was never threatened, finishing in 31:58 after starting the race with a 40-second head start based on previous results at the World Cup finals. Overall World Cup champion Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland was 51.9 seconds behind and Charlotte Kalla of Sweden placed third, another 20.9 seconds back.

Bjoergen overtook Petra Majdic in the overall standings. The Slovenian has not competed since fracturing her ribs during the Vancouver Olympics.