In the women's final, three Norwegians, two Swedes and one Swiss fought for victory and podium places. The leader of the Sprint World Cup Linn Svahn (SWE, Fischer **) didn't made the cut into the final in eighth place after she had once again clashed with Jonna Sundling and once again showed her evil eye - as always when something does not work. Anamarija Lampic (SLO, Fischer ***) was eliminated in the quarter-finals as 17th. Maiken Caspersen Falla mostly dominated the final, but Jonna Sundling kept fighting with her for the lead. The two went on the home stretch almost together, but the Swede could no longer catch the Norwegian, so Falla lived up to her role as favorite in the classic sprint. "It feels like World Championships with so many people shouting your name. It's a great atmosphere and I'm happy to be here. It was some tough distance races for me, but I'm happy that I'm still in the Tour and can enjoy this atmosphere", she said. Anna Dyvik (SWE, Fischer ***) took fourth place ahead of Anna Svendsen (NOR, Fischer ***) and Heidi Weng (NOR, Fischer ***). Therese Johaug (NOR, Fischer ***) made it to the semifinals and secured ninth place, Ingvild Flugstad Østberg (NOR, Fischer ***) failed in the quarterfinals and was only 22nd. In the overall standings because of the large gaps there is not a big difference: Weng made up seconds on Østberg, so that both start the handicap race together, 2:33 seconds behind Johaug.
In the final, Federico Pellegrino (ITA) faced five Norwegians. Erik Valnes started the race very quickly, but Johannes Høsflot Klæbo was vigilant and attacked in the long climb. He went first into the downhill, followed by Golberg (NOR) and Valnes, who fought on the home stretch for further podium spots - Erik Valnes finished third. Emil Iversen (NOR, Fischer ***) came in fourth. In the overall standings, Alexander Bolshunov (RUS) is only 34 seconds ahead of Golberg and 1:35 minutes ahead of Krogh (NOR) as the first athlete in a presumably large group after his eighth place after a fall - a circumstance that the Russian in view of the weather forecast for tomorrow with lots of snow already worries before today's sprint: Does he have to play the snow plow and then lose a lot of time?
* = Fischer skis
** = Fischer skis and bindings
*** = Fischer skis, bindings and boots
