Svahn was the only blue-yellow participant in the final after winning both her quarterfinal and semifinal. The Swede dominated the final for a long time, but eventually had to give in to Nadine Fähndrich, who was the first to cross the finish line.
I wanted to go for the win and I think I'm doing what I should to be able to challenge. But it's a bit lacking, says Linn Svahn to Viaplay.
"Took some time"
The podium spot was the first for the season for Svahn.
It took some time this year, says the 25-year-old, who is aiming for a later peak form with the World Championship in Trondheim later this winter in mind.
I have a few months left to really get it right, she continues.
The top three in the total – Astrid Øyre Slind in first place, Therese Johaug in second place (both Norway), and Kerttu Niskanen in third place (Finland) – were eliminated in the quarterfinal. Even qualifying winner Jasmi Joensuu from Finland missed the semifinal.
In the quarterfinal, Moa Ilar and Ebba Andersson also dropped out. Ilar was extremely close to reaching the semifinal on time, but was 43 hundredths of a second too slow when she finished third in her heat.
Distance specialist Andersson advanced from the qualifying round as 30th and last skier, but finished last in the quarterfinal won by her national team colleague Svahn.
Unchanged at the top
Only three Swedish women started in Friday's stage. The quartet Johanna Hagström, Maja Dahlqvist, Märta Rosenberg, and Moa Lundgren have been forced to abandon the Tour de Ski due to colds.
It remains unchanged at the top of the total after the sprint event. Linn Svahn advanced five places and is now tenth, 3.24 minutes behind leader Slind.
The penultimate stage is a skiathlon and will be decided on Saturday.
