LILLEHAMMER, Norway (AP) Russia won the men's competition while Norway dominated the women's race Sunday in the first cross-country relays of the World Cup season.
Maxim Vylegzhanin's strong finish on the last leg clinched the men's 4x7.5 kilometer race in Lillehammer for Russia in 1 hour, 19 minutes, 4.7 seconds.
Norway's teams took second, third and fourth places, with Sweden rounding off the top five.
Vylegzhanin stunned the Norwegians by pulling away in the final stretch, where even sprint specialist Petter Northug couldn't match him.
Northug, who anchored Norway's first team, was beaten to the finish line also by Finn Krogh of Norway II.