MORA, Sweden — Daniel Tynell broke away with about five kilometers to go Sunday and won the Vasaloppet cross-country ski marathon for the third time.

Tynell covered the 90-kilometer (56-mile) classic-style race in 4 hours, 10 minutes, 55 seconds. He also won the world's oldest, longest and biggest ski race in 2002 and '06.

Oskar Svard, another Swedish three-time winner, finished second in 4:11.18. Stanislav Rezac of the Czech Republic was third in 4:11.33. Jorgen Aukland of Norway, last year's winner, wound up eighth.

Sandra Hansson of Sweden won the women's race for the second straight year, finishing in 4:43.13.

About 15,000 skiers started the race in Salen, near the Norwegian border. For many, it would take more than 10 hours to finish. When Vasaloppet was first held in 1922, all but two of the 119 starters finished.

The course is based on the attempt by Gustav Vasa in 1522 to gather peasants for a revolt against the occupying Danes. Vasa fled when he got no support. The people of Mora changed their minds and sent their two best skiers to bring Vasa back, and they found him near Salen.

He returned to lead the Swedes to independence, and was later proclaimed King Gustav Vasa. The Vasaloppet follows the same course from Salen to Mora.

More than 48,000 skiers registered for nine different races during Vasaloppet's Winter Week.