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OBERSTDORF, Germany (AP) — Therese Johaug beat Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg in the women's 10-kilometer mass start Wednesday to cut her Norwegian teammate's lead in the Tour de Ski to just 12.2 seconds.
Norwegians completed the top four, with Johaug winning in 26 minutes, 37.6 seconds - 9.9 seconds ahead of Oestberg.
"I am happy to gain some seconds. It will be a tough fight with her all the way to the top of Alpe Cermis," said Johaug, referring to the last of the eight-race series at Val di Fiemme in Italy.
Heidi Weng was 19.7 behind in third, followed by Ragnhild Haga and Anne Kylloenen of Finland, both more than a minute behind.
Weng is 2:33.1 behind Oestberg in the Tour de Ski standings.
Three races remain in the series, with action resuming in Toblach, Italy, on Friday, when individual races are scheduled.
Alexey Poltoranin of Kazakhstan edged Dario Cologna of Switzerland in a photo finish to win the men's 15-kilometer race.
"I hope for top 10 in Toblach and I will fight for the third place in the Tour de Ski," Poltoranin said.
Poltoranin finished in 35:35.9, one-tenth of a second ahead of Cologna, who was 0.6 seconds ahead of Francesco de Fabiani of Italy.
Niklas Dyrhaug and Didrik Toenseth completed the top five.
After five of eight races in the Tour de Ski, Martin Johnsrud Sundby still leads Norwegian teammate Petter Northug Jr. despite finishing 23rd.
"I had a terrible day. I lost many seconds," Sundby said. "I have to look forward to the next day and try to have a better day on the next stage."
Northug, who was ninth, cut the gap to 47.2 seconds.
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