Germany - Claudia Nystad delighted a German home crowd on Saturday when she won the prologue for the third edition of the Tour de Ski cross-country series.

Nystad, who lived in the eastern German winter sport resort for several years, covered the hilly 2.8-kilometres course in 6 minutes 17.2 seconds.

Italy's Ariana Follis trailed by 1.1 second, with Petra Majdic of Slovenia and Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk joint third, 2.3 seconds off the pace.

Finnish World Cup leader Aino Kaisa Saarinen was 9.6 seconds behind Nystad, compatriot 2007 Tour de Ski winner and 2008 runner-up Virpi Kuitunen was 9.3 seconds behind. Reigning champion Charlotte Kalla of Sweden was not competing.

"I am happy to have won, but now come the more difficult races," said Nystad.

The Tour de Ski covers seven stages until January 4 in Oberhof, Prague, Nove Mesto and Val di Fiemme. The overall winner gets 400 World Cup points and a cheque of
85,295 euros (119,500 dollars).

The men's prologue was scheduled for later Saturday in Oberhof. (dpa)