NOVE MESTO NA MORAVE, Czech Republic - Lukas Bauer of the Czech Republic and Virpi Kuitunen of Finland won the opening races of the Tour de Ski on Friday.

Lukas Bauer of Czech Republic speeds on his way to win the 4.5 kms classic race of the Tour de Ski cross-country skiing event in Nove Mesto na Morave, some 160 kms east of Prague, Czech Republic, on Friday, Dec. 28, 2007. (AP Photo/CTK, Lubos Pavlicek)

Bauer covered the unusual 4.5-kilometer classical style race in 11 minutes and 15.6 seconds to beat Germany's Axel Teichmann by 1 second. Odd-Bjorn Hjelmeset finished third in 11:18.9.

Virpi Kuitunen of Finland speeds down on her way to win the three-kilometer opening race of the Tour de Ski cross-country skiing event in Nove Mesto na Morave, some 160 kms east of Prague, Czech Republic, on Friday, Dec. 28, 2007. (AP Photo/CTK, Lubos Pavlicek)

Kuitunen, the defending tour champion, was fastest in the women's 3.3 kilometer classical style in 9:22.8, edging compatriot Aino Kaisa Saarinen by 0.7 seconds.

Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk was third, 1.9 seconds back.

This is the second edition of the Tour de Ski, after its inauguration last year. The tour includes eight races, and the overall time winner gets 400 World Cup points.

The tour continues Saturday with men's and women's freestyle pursuit races.

SkiRacing.com
Friday, 28 December 2007

Meanwhile, a snow plough is used to prepare the track for Tour de Ski cross-country skiing event at the historical Hradcanske square in Prague December 28, 2007. The second stage of the event will be held near the Prague castle on December 30.

(REUTERS/Petr Josek CZECH REPUBLIC)

(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Results Friday from a World Cup cross-country ski meet, the first of the eight-race Tour de Ski:
NOVE MESTO NA MORAVE, Czech Republic

Men
4.5 kilometers, classic

1. Lukas Bauer, Czech Republic, 11 minutes, 15.6 seconds.
2. Axel Teichmann, Germany, 1.0 second behind.
3. Odd-Bjorn Hjelmeset, Norway, 3.3.
4. Sami Jauhojaervi, Finland, 3.5
5. Mats Larsson, Sweden, 4.9.
6. Jens Arne Svartedal, Norway, 5.6
7. Dmitry Liashenko, Russia, 8.5.
8. Anders Sodergren, Sweden, 10.6.
9. Tor Arne Hetland, Norway, 12.8.
(tie) John Kristian Dahl, Norway, 12.8.

Tour de Ski Standings
(After 1 of 8 events)

1. Lukas Bauer, Czech Republic, 11 minutes, 0.6 seconds.
2. Axel Teichmann, Germany, 6.0 seconds back.
3. Odd-Bjorn Hjelmeset, Norway, 13.3.
4. Sami Jauhojaervi, Finland, 18.5.
5. Mats Larsson, Sweden, 19.9.

Women
3.3 kilometers, classic

1. Virpi Kuitunen, Finland, 9:22.8.
2. Aino Kaisa Saarinen, Finland, 0.7 seconds behind.
3. Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland, 1.9.
4. Marit Bjorgen, Norway, 6.1.
5. Seraina Mischol, Switzerland, 13.0.
6. Julia Ivanova, Russia, 14.4.
7. Charlotte Kalla, Sweden, 14.5.
8. Olga Rotcheva, Russia, 14.8.
9. Valentina Shevchenko, Ukraine, 15.3.
10. Therese Johaug, Norway, 15.8.

Tour de Ski Standings
(After 1 of 8 events)

1. Virpi Kuitunen, Finland, 9:07.8.
2. Aino Kaisa Saarinen, Finland, 5.7 seconds behind.
3. Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland, 11.9.
4. Marit Bjorgen, Norway, 21.1.
5. Seraina Mischol, Switzerland, 28.0.

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