Joensson, Korosteleva take World Cup's Tour de Ski titles

Joensson, Korosteleva take World Cup's Tour de Ski titles

PRAGUE, Jan. 4 -- Sweden's Emil Joensson and Russian Natalia Korosteleva pulled off the men's and women's victories in the fourth leg of World Cup's Tour de Ski series here on Monday.

Joensson finished the 1.2km sprint around the streets of the Czech capital in 2 minutes and 26.5 seconds, beating compatriot Marcus Hellner to the second place and Norway's Simon Oestensen came third.

Joensson now tops the Tour de Ski standings, with Hellner in second at 43.8 seconds.

World Cup leader Petter Northug of Norway, winner of the prologue and the first stage in the event which counts towards the World Cup, failed to qualify for the finals.

Korosteleva clinched the women's title in 2:45.7 ahead of Norway's Celine Brun-Lie and Slovakia's Alena Propchazkova.

Finn Aino Kaisa Saarinen leads the overall Tour de Ski standings, 24.9 ahead of Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk.

The Tour de Ski continues on Wednesday with a pursuit (30km for the men and 16km for the women) between the Italian resorts of Cortina and Toblach.
(Xinhua)