The two Norwegians Therese Johaug and Heidi Weng took an early grip on the mass start over 20 km, freestyle. But Jonna Sundling sneaked up well behind and could eventually pass them.
In the end, everything was decided on the final sprint where Jessie Diggins was the strongest and crossed the finish line just ahead of Sundling.
How did she feel afterwards? Really good.
I'm happy. I was more energetic than I thought, especially in the end. But also throughout the entire race, says Sundling.
She continues:
I could recover well downhill and tried to ski well, ski big and powerful. I wanted to ski smart based on the skier I am and it paid off really well today. Further than I thought, says the 29-year-old from Tvärålund.
"Really good proof"
For Sundling – who is primarily specialized in sprint – it was a nice message to stand on the podium in a distance race.
It's obviously really fun and a really good proof of where I stand. It feels like I'm where I want to be now, so it's really fun, she says.
Do you get a taste for distance now?
No, not more than usual. I love all distances and it's probably extra fun in some way that this "twenty" went so well.
Johaug missed the podium
Third place went to Weng while Johaug had to settle for fourth place.
Among the other Swedes, Ebba Andersson finished 9th, Moa Ilar 16th, Linn Svahn 17th, Maja Dahlqvist 19th, and Märta Rosenberg 27th. Frida Karlsson, who won Friday's 10 km classic, skipped the race, which was decided before the competition weekend.
Dahlqvist was impressed by Sundling's performance.
Really good. I didn't quite understand that she got a podium spot. But really cool, she must have finished really strong. Cool also that we have four different girls on the podium the first weekend, says Dahlqvist.
The race concluded the first World Cup weekend, which took place in Ruka, Finland. Next weekend, new competitions await in Lillehammer, Norway.
10 km classic: Frida Karlsson (first).
Sprint: Johanna Hagström (first), Maja Dahlqvist (third).
20 km freestyle: Jonna Sundling (second)
+ 6–8 December: Lillehammer, Norway.
+ 13–15 December: Davos, Switzerland.
+ 28 December–5 January: Tour de Ski in Toblach and Val di Fiemme, Italy.
+ 17–19 January: Les Rousses, France.
+ 24–26 January: Engadin, Switzerland.
+ 31 January–2 February: Cogne, Italy.
+ 14–16 February: Falun, Sweden.
+ 26 February–9 March: World Championship in Trondheim, Norway.
+ 15–16 March: Holmenkollen, Norway.
+ 19 March: Tallinn, Estonia (only sprint).
+ 21–23 March: World Cup finals in Lahtis, Finland.
