Norwegian Anikken Gjerde Alnæs won the sprint battle against Stina Nilsson by 1.5 seconds and compatriot Silje Øyre Slind by 3.9 seconds in the 36 kilometer long race in Bad Gastein in Austria.
"It felt great in my body and I feel really strong, especially uphill. It was a nice reward. That's where my strengths lay today," says Nilsson.
I knew it would be tough when there were three of us (in a fight). I felt during the race that I wasn't going to have a good time under the skis. I tried but Anikken was the strongest today.
Stina Nilsson says that of course she would have liked to win, but that she got the most out of it and received great receipts for the continuation of the long-distance cup.
The next competition is the 55-kilometer Engadin la Diagonela race in Switzerland on January 17.
