Vittoz, Smigun Take Victories In Ramsau Mass Starts

The World Cup continues this weekend in Ramsau Austria.
Vincent Vittoz of France braves a snowstorm and winds gusts Saturday to win his second World Cup cross country race of the season, edging Swede Anders Soedergren by three-tenths of a second in a 30K freestyle. World Cup leader Axel Teichmann was third, two seconds back. On a team hard-hit by sickness, Andrew Johnson (Greensboro, VT) was the lone American to race, finishing 70th in a three-lap race in which 28 of the 100 starters failed to finish.

Kristina Smigun won the women's 15K mass start by a commanding 30 seconds. Her main rival this season, Norway's Marit Bjorgen, did not race. Sara Renner of Canada had a good race, finishing in 16th spot, about 2 minutes behind. Wendy Wagner (USA) did not race.

RESULTS: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/fiscalendarresults/results.html?cal_suchseason=2005&cal_suchsector=CC&cal_suchcategory=WC&cal_shownum=30&cal_linenum=-30