VAL DI FIEMME (Italy), Feb 24: Germany won the women’s 4x5km cross country relay at the nordic skiing world championships on Monday, repeating their gold medal performance of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

The German team of Manuela Henkel, Viola Bauer, Claudia Kuenzel and Evi Sachenbacher clocked 50 minutes 54.2 seconds to beat Finland by 23 seconds and Norway by 31.6 seconds.

Norway held a commanding 20-second lead after two of the four laps but Hilde Pedersen crashed on a technical descent, destroying their hopes of winning the world title.

The women’s 4x5km relay race is Germany’s third world title at the championships. They have also won the men’s 15 km and men’s combined titles.—Reuters