updated 6:40 a.m. ET Feb. 14, 2006

PRAGELATO, Italy - Lina Andersson saw Canada’s Beckie Scott go past her for a moment, then found the energy for one final push.

Andersson and Anna Dahlberg of Sweden won gold in the inaugural women’s cross-country team sprint Tuesday thanks to Andersson’s gutsy effort in the final straight, edging Scott and Sara Renner to finish in 16 minutes, 36.9 seconds.

Scott came in six-tenths of a second behind and Finland’s pair of Kaisa Aino Saarinen and Virpi Kuitunen took the bronze.

Germany’s Evi Sachenbacher, a relay gold medalist at the Salt Lake City Olympics, was cleared Monday after retesting following a five-day suspension for high hemoglobin levels and teamed with Viola Bauer to finish fifth.

World Cup leader Marit Bjorgen of Norway returned to action after pulling out less than midway through Sunday’s 15-kilometer pursuit with a stomach problem. She and Ella Gjomle had the fastest time out of the two semifinals Tuesday in 17:14.4, but came in 11.2 seconds behind the winning Swedish duo.

“She’s feeling good — no fatigue, no stomach pain,” Norwegian team doctor Petter Hans Stokke said. “She’s been sick for two days, so we were not sure.”

Scott and Renner, second in the first semifinal, were slowed after Renner broke a pole just before the last exchange.

American Kikkan Randall also was cleared Monday to compete after her hemoglobin suspension and teamed with Wendy Wagner to make the final in a surprise performance, earning the fifth and final spot out of the second semifinal.

“It would be funny if the U.S. team could take a spot in the final,” the announcer said.

Slide show   Emotional Moments Feb. 26: See photos of athletes' highs and lows from Sunday.

They placed 10th — last — in the final.

Each skier completed three laps of just more than 1.1 kilometers.

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