The women's ski mass start over two kilometers in freestyle ended the World Cup's opening weekend in Ruka.
It was clear quite early on that the close battle would be about seven skaters. There was the Swedish star trio Ebba Andersson, Frida Karlsson and Jonna Sundling. There was American Jessie Diggins, but also Heidi Weng and two more Norwegians.
It was mainly Karlsson and towards the end also Andersson who tried to pick up the pace to break their more sprint-strong competitors.
But it didn't work and the closer the goal got, the more Sundling spoke for himself.
When I entered the stadium, it was almost like I was in a sprint. And then I felt quite at home, Sundling tells Viaplay.
“Very good skis”
When it was all decided inside the Ruka ski stadium, the blue and yellow sprint champion was in a class of his own. Sundling crossed the finish line 2.3 seconds ahead of Diggins and another half a second ahead of Weng.
Sundling had a pretty much perfect race and could thank good skis for not having to expend so much energy to keep up.
"I had very good skis today, so it went pretty well and quickly downhill. So I still felt like I could let go a little on the uphills," she says.
Karlsson and Andersson finished fourth and fifth, without the sprint capacity to challenge for the podium places.
It's tough to come fourth, but I have a good body today. It's hard to leave. I did just about everything and still I'm not better, says Frida Karlsson to Viaplay.
Wanted more help
She was the one who did by far the hardest work to break through the field and would have liked more help there. Ebba Andersson contributed a little in any case.
But as soon as I was up, it was quite shortly afterwards that she (Frida) wanted to get back up to the front, Andersson tells Viaplay.
On the type of track that was there today, with icy sections and some wind, it became challenging to be at the front.
Despite missing out on the podium, Karlsson, winner of Friday's half-marathon, leaves Ruka with a good feeling.
"Very happy with my body and a big step forward from last weekend. If it continues in this direction, it could be really good," she says.
It was a strong Swedish team effort with Moa Ilar finishing eighth and Maja Dahlqvist ninth. Throughout the weekend, Sweden's women have taken five out of nine podium places, a good start to the season for the national team, which last season took six out of six gold medals at the World Championships.
