LA CLUSAZ, France - Alexey Poltoranin of Kazakhstan and Marit Bjoergen of Norway won cross-country World Cup races on Saturday.

Poltoranin won the men's 15-kilometre classical-style mass start race in a sprint finish, clocking 37 minutes, 11.6 seconds to beat Russia's Alexander Bessmertnykh by .01 seconds. Switzerland's Dario Cologna was just behind them in third.

Alexander Legkov of Russia, who was fifth, leads the overall standings with 867 points. Cologna is second with 826.

Ivan Babikov of Canmore, Alta., was 39th in 38:09.1, followed closely by Alex Harvey of St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., who was 42nd in 38:20.4. Toronto's Len Valjas was 50th in 38:41.4.

In the women's 10K event, Bjoergen won in a time of 27:04.6, with countrywoman Therese Johaug 2.7 seconds behind in second place. World Cup leader Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland was 18 seconds back in third.

Kowalczyk has 1,372 points overall, and Johaug is far behind in second with 947.

Daria Gaiazova of Banff, Alta., placed 27th in 29:30.8. Perianne Jones of Almonte, Ont., was 38th in 30:32.5.

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