The Sidelines : Norway Wins Second Nordic Gold

VAL DI FIEMME, Italy —  Terje Langli, a long-distance expert from Norway, today won the shortest men’s race at the World Nordic Ski Championships.

Langli battled back from eighth at the halfway point to win the 10K classic-style cross-country event, finishing just ahead of Christer Majback and Torgny Mogren, both of Sweden.

One of the early starters, Langli had to wait “the longest 15 minutes of my life” before realizing that no other skier could beat his time of 25 minutes, 55.0 seconds.

It was Langli’s first victory in a major ski championship and his country’s second gold medal in cross-country at these championships.