Unlike in a women's mass start, the field stayed together for the first few kilometers, although Therese Johaug set the pace as usual. For the sprint after the first lap and 3.3 raced kilometers, she increased the pace and escaped minimally with Heidi Weng. But Weng immediately dropped back into the chasing group, while Johaug went her own way. Behind Johaug was an initially four-person chasing group with Weng, Jacobsen (NOR), Ingvild Flugstad Østberg (NOR, Fischer ***) and Ebba Andersson, who both first had to fight their way through the field with a high bib number after their late start into the season due to health reasons. Shortly afterwards, Natalia Nepryaeva (RUS, Fischer ***) closed the gap to the group, but a few minutes later she lost connection again. In the second half of the race, Østberg and Andersson set the pace in the group, so Weng and Jacobsen struggled to keep up the pace. Therese Johaug won the first stage of this year's Tour de Ski with a lead of only 12 seconds, after she was up to 20 seconds ahead earlier. In the sprint for second place, Heidi Weng succeeded against Ebba Andersson and Ingvild Flugstad Østberg. Natalia Nepryaeva was able to save her fifth place just in front of the storming group. Charlotte Kalla (SWE, Fischer **) finished ninth followed by Kerttu Niskanen (FIN, Fischer ***).
After a fast start, the pace was relatively slow for a long time, so that a large group stayed together. Several attacks remained unsuccessful. So it took about 1.5 kilometers before the finish until Sergey Ustiugov made the decisive attack. The Russian, who was far from satisfied with the start of the season, was vigilant throughout the race without wasting too much energy. No one of his competitors could follow his sudden attack, so that he was able to open a small lead. His group of three chasers initially consisted of Alexander Bolshunov (RUS), Dario Cologna (SUI, Fischer ***) and a Norwegian, followed by another group with several Norwegians in the lead. On the way to the stadium, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo managed to close the gap and in a small descent he flashed by the Swiss. On the home stretch, he sucked in on Bolshunov and finally took second place after evaluating the photo finish - four seconds behind Sergey Ustiugov. Emil Iversen (NOR, Fischer ***) and Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget (NOR, Fischer ***) finished fourth and fifth ahead of Dario Cologna. Hans Christer Holund (NOR, Fischer ***) was ranked seventh ahead of substitute Jan Thomas Jenssen (NOR, Fischer ***).
=> 15km F Mass start Lenzerheide (SUI)
* = Fischer skis
** = Fischer skis and bindings
*** = Fischer skis, bindings and boots
