Edvin Anger was third, 2.51 seconds behind the Norwegian sovereign Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. For the other experienced Swedish World Cup skiers, it was a tough day.
The World Championship-qualified duo Oskar Svensson and Marcus Grate (fresh SM winner) missed advancement. Even Johan Häggström bombed in the qualifying round.
Instead, three Swedish dark horses took the chance. George Ersson, Erik Johansson, and Adam Persson are selected in a national group of skiers that Sweden gets to select as the host and the trio advanced to the quarterfinals. Even Emil Danielsson is advancing.
In the women's class, Linn Svahn was the fastest of all – around one and a half seconds ahead of second-place Jasmi Joensuu, Finland, who leads the sprint cup overall.
Svahn has not been able to compete since the Tour de Ski in early January. Then she finished second in the tour's final sprint event.
On the tour, I had poor recovery. It cost me more than what I usually experience on a tour. Then it was time to pull the handbrake, said the 25-year-old ahead of the competitions in Falun, which are the last before the World Championship in Trondheim later in February.
Even Maja Dahlqvist (third), Johanna Hagström (fifth), Moa Lundgren (sixth), and Elin Henriksson (20th) are advancing to the quarterfinals.
Jonna Sundling, Emma Ribom, Frida Karlsson, and William Poromaa are skipping the competitions in Falun.
The quarterfinals start at 11.30.
