Russian Women Rally to Win Relay

Evgenia Medvedeva-Abruzova made up a 12 1/2 -second deficit on the leading Germans with her final leg to lift Russia to the gold in the women’s 4x5-kilometer cross-country relay in Pragelato.

After taking over the lead, Medvedeva-Abruzova skated all alone through the final stretch to finish in a time of 54 minutes, 47.7 seconds.

Claudia Kuenzel of defending champion Germany dropped out of the top three after giving up the lead, but fought back to cross second for the silver, 10 seconds behind Russia.

Italy came in a second after Germany to take the bronze, keeping the favored Norwegians off the podium. Sweden was fourth and Norway fifth.