Ebba Andersson, who has both won and finished second in the tough final stage of the Tour de Ski, hoped for a podium spot on the stage also this year.
She kept up with the leaders and was second after Therese Johaug a bit up the slalom slope Alpe Cermis, but was then overtaken by three more Norwegians.
I took it easy up to the hill and had a good pace in the beginning. I tried to maintain my rhythm and just focus on my own. Thought that they would pass me when I start to tire, says Andersson to Viaplay.
When they finally passed me, I thought I'd try to follow, but there wasn't much energy left in the end.
"The one who saves it has"
Andersson finished fifth in the stage, 44 seconds after Johaug. In the overall standings, she advanced one position to sixth place, nearly five minutes after Johaug.
It's completely okay, the foundation is at an approved level, but I'm lacking the final bit right now. But the one who saves it, we'll see who has the most left at the end of the season, says Andersson with the World Championship in February-March in mind.
Ninth stage win
The Norwegian skiing queen, who made a comeback this winter after giving birth, won Saturday's skiathlon and took over the leader's jersey in the tour from her compatriot Astrid Øyre Slind.
Johaug led from start to finish the last day and was in the goal a whole 25 seconds ahead of Slind and 28 ahead of Heidi Weng.
Johaug won the tough stage with the uphill climb for the ninth time and took her fourth overall win in the Tour de Ski.
I'm very pleased. I didn't have the goal to do the Tour de Ski this season, but suddenly there were changes, says Johaug to Viaplay.
Moa Ilar finished 21st in the stage and became 14th overall, and Linn Svahn finished 24th, and 18th overall.
