Star Tove Alexandersson won double individually during the midsummer weekend's World Cup premiere in Idre, but refrained from Sunday's relay to leave for high-altitude training ahead of the upcoming World Championship in Finland.
In addition, Sara Hagström had decided not to run all the races in Idre and Hanna Lundberg missed the entire premiere weekend due to an injury.
"A bit stressful"
A heavily weakened Sweden had no chance of winning the relay.
An early mistake by Frida Vikström on the first leg made the Swedish first team fall far behind.
I made a mistake to the second control and after that, it felt like I was behind all the time. It was a bit stressful, says Vikström to SVT.
Johanna Ridefelt could not bring Sweden closer to the top, but Sanna Fasth finished strongly and brought the team up in the results list for a final sixth place. Sweden was 6.26 minutes behind the winner Switzerland's first team. Norway and Finland - the nations' first teams - finished second and third.
Sweden's second team (Andrea Svensson, Helena Karlsson, Alva Sonesson) finished last in 12th place (+12.02).
On the men's side, Sweden dominated. The first team's Max Peter Bejmer - who on Saturday took his first World Cup victory when he won the middle distance - sprinted down Emil Svensk in the second team and won the relay with a margin of just under twelve seconds.
"Sick scalp"
It's a sick scalp to take. It's wonderful to feel that my legs responded, says Bejmer about the duel with Emil Svensk.
In the first team, Viktor Svensk and Anton Johansson also ran. Emil Svensk was accompanied by Martin Regborn and Gustav Bergman in the second team. Norway took third place ahead of Sweden's third team (Simon Imark, Simon Hector, Albin Ridefelt).
The World Championship in Finland will be decided on July 8-12 and Bejmer hopes for a ticket to the championship.
I feel that I've done everything I can, he says to SVT.
The quartet Gustav Bergman, Tove Alexandersson, Sanna Fasth, and Hanna Lundberg have been given the go-ahead for the World Championship. The squad in its entirety will be presented on Tuesday.
