When Elvira Öberg handed over to Jesper Nelin on the third leg, he went out first – and was still in the lead when he handed over to Martin Ponsiluoma.
I really did my own race today, been in my own zone the whole time. It's useful to do that too sometimes, I'm satisfied with what I did today, he says.
He never felt stressed about being chased.
I've felt unusually calm the whole time. Normally at this time before the first relay, I'm over-tired and nervous, but now I was calm and secure and felt that even on the track today.
Why have you been calmer this year?
Well, I haven't had time to get stressed before the start, it's felt like it's gone so fast. It just clicked and then it was World Cup start.
Elvira liked the situation
Maybe it was the slightly heavy preseason start that made the training season go fast. It was after a doping test at the end of April that Nelin got blood poisoning. He got penicillin after his arm started to turn blue, and could eventually start training again. But was behind then.
Now in the fall, I've done very well instead, gotten better and better form all the time.
Anna Magnusson was third when she handed over to Elvira Öberg, who took herself up to the top after shooting full in standing.
It was a fun situation, to go out and chase and hand over in the lead, that's what you want to do, she says.
I give myself a pass and take with me the standing shooting, I like my performance on the range when I come in with other skilled skiers and can deliver at top level.
"Like an iron spike"
Martin Ponsiluoma failed to maintain the lead during the final leg, but instead saw himself overtaken by Norwegian Vebjørn Sørum and Frenchman Emilien Jacquelin, who made sure to take the top positions in the race.
There were a lot of premiere nerves today, I felt incredibly nervous when Jesper patted me on the back. The first lap felt like an iron spike, then I relaxed a bit, says Ponsiluoma.
I didn't have the best day, but it was good to get the first relay.
