Falk, Pellegrino claim cross-country World Cup sprint wins

By AP
Published

DRESDEN, Germany (AP) Hanna Falk of Sweden and Federico Pellegrino of Italy claimed their first cross-country World Cup victories of the season in 1.2-kilometer sprint finals on Saturday.

They were the first city sprints to take place in Dresden.

Falk made it into the final as one of two lucky losers, but she took control early and finished in 2 minutes, 11.02 seconds, beating compatriot Maja Dahlqvist by 0.23 seconds and Sophie Caldwell of the United States by 0.30.

Switzerland's Laurien Van Der Graaff was fourth, ahead of Swedes Anna Dyvik and Stina Nilsson.

It was Falk's first win since January 2010.

In the men's event, Pellegrino claimed his first win since January last year, forcing his way to the front and holding off Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo to win by 0.18 seconds. Lucas Chanavat of France was third.