SPORTING DIGEST: SKIING

SPORTING DIGEST: SKIING

Italy's men won the first cross country freestyle skiing relay of the Nordic World Cup season yesterday after their main rivals crashed. The Swede Per Elofsson was one of those to fall. He was taken to hospital for checks after building up a commanding lead of almost a minute during the third leg of the 4x10km. A Swedish team official said preliminary results showed no broken bones but the skier had badly gashed his buttocks after careering into the woods.