LIBEREC, Czech Republic -- Defending champion Norway won the men's cross-country relay Friday at the Nordic skiing world championships.
Petter Northug sprinted away from Germany's Axel Teichmann in the last uphill section and Norway finished in 1 hour, 41 minutes, 50.6 seconds to retain its 2007 title. Germany was 2.6 seconds back.
Finland earned bronze, its first relay medal since the 1997 worlds.
Northug quickly erased a 15-second deficit on the final leg and cruised behind Teichmann, passing him before the finish.