For the mass start, it was for the ladies first to complete the red and then the blue 3.75 kilometer lap, so that the double lap was to ski four times. In the stadium, there was the possibility of a ski change throughout the race, which took a large part of the Top20 athletes after 18.75 kilometers alltogether. But at this time Therese Johaug was skiing alone for a long time. Already right at the start, the Norwegian skied so fast that initially seven athletes were able to go with her. At the beginning of the blue lap she attacked again and escaped from the remaining four ladies plus the slightly dropping Østberg. As the group rearranged, Nathalie von Siebenthal (SUI, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) quickly regained her 20-second gap by escaping on her own out of the second group. Therese Johaug already had a 40 second lead after half of the race, which she later extended to a maximum of 50 seconds before the beginning of the last half lap. Her second gold medal from Seefeld was not endangered at any moment of the race and she could celebrate with the Norwegian flag.
Behind Therese Johaug it became exciting with the change of ski after 18.75 kilometers. The 19-year-old Frida Karlsson and Jessie Diggins (USA) were able to open a slight gap outside the stadium and the young Swede continued to accelerate, so that the American and dropped back. A short time later, Østberg was able to close the gap to the American and even escape from her, so she started to catch up with Frida Karlsson on her own. Soon she had caught up with the Swede again and both focused on the fight for silver. One kilometer before the finish, they were skiing side by side together in the ascent, but over the top of the hill, the completely exhausted Swede got a gap. In the downhill, she could hardly stand on her feet, so that she wasn't able to close the gap to the Norwegian. Ingvild Flugstad Østberg cheered at the finish and fell into the arms of waiting Therese Johaug. Frida Karlsson secured the bronze, but was so exhausted that she could not even enjoy it.
Teresa Stadlober (AUT, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) and above all Nathalie von Siebenthal left a very strong impression, but in the last two kilometers both could not keep up with the high pace. They lost sight of Swedes Ebba Andersson (SWE, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) and Charlotte Kalla (SWE, Fischer skis and bindings), who finished fifth and sixth. For Charlotte Kalla, who wanted to win a medal today after her strong relay performance, it was an up and down in the race. The 31-year-old could not keep up with the pace of the leading group after just four kilometers, but broke away from the second chasing group after 20 kilometers and joined the next group. Nathalie von Siebenthal showed her best performance of the season in seventh place and even finished ahead of Teresa Stadlober, who came in eighth at her home WSC. Rank ten went to Ragnhild Haga (NOR, Fischer skis, bindings and boots).
