Frida Karlsson had the lead during several of the race's early intermediate times. But it was with the smallest possible margin.
Tightly behind, Ebba Andersson was chasing.
After half of the Sweden premiere in Bruksvallarna, Andersson was half a second slower than Karlsson.
Then it was all about Andersson.
I got continuous times and felt that I had good control over my skiing, she says in SVT's broadcast.
But on the climb of the second lap, I felt it, so it wasn't the same snap in my skiing at the end as I started with.
The 27-year-old was 7.4 seconds faster after 7.3 km, and when the lead was 13.5 seconds with 500 meters left – then the victory was secured.
It was clearly tough, you're not used to sticking out with the bib number on and giving it your all for the moment.
In the end, Andersson was 11.8 seconds faster than Karlsson.
I know that Frida is of high class. She's a good benchmark for me, even though I know she's had challenges and limitations lately.
Karlsson – who was hit by a setback in training just under a month ago, overloading in her left foot, and was forced to take a break from skiing – was "really pleased" with her second place.
It was far beyond expectations, she says to SVT.
I was quite eager in the beginning, opened up quite hard, but I think I held it together pretty well anyway. I was a bit tired in the middle of the lap.
I had zero idea where I was, since I haven't been on snow that much.
Jonna Sundling, who won the sprint on Friday, became third.
The World Cup starts in Finnish Ruka, November 29–December 1.
