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Bjoerndalen wins biathlon World Cup pursuit

The Associated Press

KONTIOLAHTI, Finland - Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen edged Martin Fourcade of France to win the men's World Cup 12.5-kilometre pursuit on Sunday, while Kaisa Makarainen of Finland won the women's race on home soil.

Bjoerndalen missed two targets in the first shooting round, but shot clean in the final round to overtake Fourcade and finish the race in 33 minutes 43.8 seconds.

The Frenchman got one penalty in the second shooting round, but held the lead for large portions of the race until missing another two shots in the final round. He finished second, 13.8 seconds back, while Dmitry Malyshko of Russia was third, 22.7 seconds behind.

Makarainen missed one target to finish the women's 10-kilometre pursuit in 32 minutes 23 seconds. Germany's Magdalena Neuner and Darya Domracheva of Belarus got four penalties each and finished second and third, 35.9 seconds and 37 seconds back, respectively.

Zina Kocher of Red Deer, Alta., was just over three minutes off the lead in ninth place.

Copyright The Canadian Press

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