Karlsson started the race strongly and took an early lead. However, the Swedish star crashed heavily. She missed the podium and finished fifth.
"I was a bit of a rookie today. I opened a bit too hard and then I didn't really have the firepower at the end," says Karlsson.
Moa Ilar was the second-best Swede and came in sixth.
“Hybrid I think”
Karlsson didn't really understand why she went out so hard.
I don't know what I was thinking. I got a bit too cocky, I think.
She took the fact that it was a tough day for the otherwise successful Swedes with a pinch of salt.
"There are days like that too. Even though we are usually better. There will be a group hungry for revenge at the next competition," says Karlsson.
Things went even worse for Ebba Andersson, who couldn't get things right at all and was almost a full minute behind the winner, finishing ninth.
"It wasn't the race I envisioned at all. It didn't go as fast as I had thought," says Andersson.
“Not the same bite”
The star was not entirely satisfied with her equipment during the day.
I think I worked harder than I thought I would. They felt good when I tested them, but then they didn't have the same bite in the groove as during the test.
Emma Ribom was 12th, Maja Dahlqvist 20th, Moa Lundgren 31st, Johanna Hagström 33rd, Märta Rosenberg 40th, Evelina Crusell 44th and Lisa Eriksson 67th.
The winner was Norway's Astrid Øyre Slind, ahead of Austria's Teresa Stadlober and the United States' Jessie Diggins.
Diggins tops the overall standings in the Tour de Ski. Ilar is the best Swede with her fifth place.
