Germany - Axel Teichmann and Claudia Nystad delighted a German home crowd on Saturday when they won the prologues for the third edition of the Tour de Ski cross-country series.

The former world champion Teichmann dominated the men's race over a hilly course of 3.7 kilometres in eastern Germany in 7 minutes 11.8 seconds.

Swiss skier Dario Cologna trailed by 8.2 seconds in second place and Norway's title contender Petter Northug was 13.0 seconds behind Teichmann for third place.

Title-holder Lukas Bauer of the Czech Republic trailed by 26.6 seconds in what considered a wide open men's field for the seven-stage race.

Earlier, the former Oberhof resident Nystad won the women's prologue 2.8km in 6:17.2 minutes from Italy's Ariana Follis (1.1 seconds behind), and joint third-place finishers Petra Majdic of Slovenia and Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland (2.3 seconds).

Finnish World Cup leader Aino Kaisa Saarinen and compatriot 2007 Tour de Ski winner and 2008 runner-up Virpi Kuitunen were both less than 10 seconds behind. Reigning champion Charlotte Kalla of Sweden was not competing.

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 event continues on Sunday in Oberhof with classic style pursuit races over 10km for the women and 15km for the men. (dpa)