Both Swedes were long in the fight for World Championship medals in the classic 15km race in Trondheim.
It's sour. It's incredibly close. We had at least one medal far into the race. It's the last 100 meters that it slips away, says men's coach Anders Högberg to Radiosporten.
After 5.9 kilometers, Høsflot Klæbo was 2.2 seconds ahead of Anger and long in the lead. The Swede had both Valnes and Harald Østberg Amundsen ahead of him in the tight race.
Then Poromaa passed – in the lead, 0.4 seconds ahead of Klæbo. The six best skiers were within a span of 4.5 seconds.
Put in the sprints
But when it came down to the last kilometers in the heavy snow conditions, the Norwegians put in the sprints and secured a medal triple.
Anger, out early in the race, had to nervously sit and wait to see how far his race and time – 28.30,8 – would take him. He couldn't keep up with Høsflot Klæbo, nor with silver medalist Valnes or Harald Østberg Amundsen who took the bronze.
Anger finished fourth, just over three seconds from the bronze.
Right now... it's really, really sad. I really give myself a chance, ski better than anyone and it's in a format that shouldn't suit me and so I'm three seconds from standing on the podium in Trondheim tonight, says Anger to Viaplay.
It's almost a heroic performance he's doing, says national team manager Anders Byström.
Poromaa was disappointed after finishing sixth.
I tried to do as well as I could, but it wasn't enough. You get really upset when you hear that you're leading. I'm really disappointed, of course. I put myself in a good position to succeed.
It went a bit too heavy on the flatter parts, he says in the mixed zone after the race.
"Tough"
Calle Halfvarsson had a much heavier day on Granåsen and finished 31st, nearly 50 seconds behind Klæbo.
Sad. This is what I looked forward to, he says to Viaplay and means that Anger and Poromaa are the skiers who should do Wednesday's sprint relay.
Jens Burman also struggled hard and finished 22nd.
