Norway's Sundby and Oestberg retain Tour de Ski leads
DOBBIACO, Italy (AP) Martin Johnsrud Sundby re-established a comfortable lead over Norwegian teammate Petter Northug Jr. in the sixth stage of the Tour de Ski on Friday.
Finn Haagen Krogh, another Norwegian, won the 10-kilometer freestyle pursuit in 22 minutes, 7.8 seconds for his seventh career victory. Sundby finished second, 3.6 seconds behind, and Maurice Manificat of France was third, 14.6 back.
Northug placed 15th in the stage, 34.5 seconds behind, and trails Sundby - the two-time defending champion - by 1:28.1 in the overall standings.
''I have again a good gap but I don't take anything for granted,'' Sundby said.
Sergey Ustiugov of Russia was third overall, 3.7 seconds behind Northug.
Krogh moved up from seventh to fourth overall.
In the women's 5-kilometer race, Jessica Diggins of the United States claimed her first career win in 13 minutes, 15.5 seconds, finishing ahead of four Norwegians.
Heidi Weng was second, 0.9 behind, followed by Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg, 1.5 back.
Oestberg increased her overall lead ahead of Therese Johaug, who was fifth in the stage, to 25.3 seconds.
Weng was third overall, 2:27.5 behind.
Diggins became the second American to win a stage this season after Sophie Caldwell took the fourth leg.
''It's really fun that we have such a strong team,'' said Diggins, who has won two medals at the world championships. ''This was a big surprise for everyone, most especially me.''
The eight-stage race concludes on Sunday with the traditional climb up Mount Cermis in Val di Fiemme.
