Because of the very easy track profile without yesterday's long climb , there were experiments in some teams with unusual lineups. Nevertheless, the Norwegians succeeded again, although starting skier Heidi Weng after attacks by Sadie Bjornsen (USA, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) and Yulia Belorukova (RUS, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) could not go along with the leading duo. Therese Johaug made up for the small gap of seven seconds within two kilometers, although she could not really play her strengths on the easy track. In the stadium passage, she took the lead of Natalia Nepryaeva (RUS, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) and left behind the Russian after nine kilometers. Nine seconds separated Norway and Russia after 2 x 5 kilometers. Krista Pärmäkoski (FIN) attacked from the chasing group and brought her team, which fell behind by Johanna Matintalo (FIN), back into the battle for second place. Norway II and Russia II followed closely behind, with the USA falling back to sixth, 29 seconds behind. The third Norwegian, Ragnhild Haga, kept the lead over the rivals with Roponen (FIN, Fischer skis, bindings and boots), Sedova (RUS, Fischer skis and bindings) and Istomina (RUS) reasonably stable and sent Ingvild Flugstad Østberg eleven seconds ahead into her race. The Norwegian was able to extend her lead significantly and ultimately make a fairly clear victory for Norway. "Of course we know the track here very well and we have good experience in the past: It's always nice to be in the relay with the others and everyone has done a good job", said Therese Johaug. Behind them, Anna Nechaevskaya (RUS, Fischer skis and bindings), Elena Soboleva (RUS, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) and young Finn Eveliina Piippo (FIN) fought for the podium finishes until shortly before the end, but Nechaevskaya was the first athlete, which fell back after a fall before the last climb, so that Russia I (Belorukova / Nepryaeva / Sedova / Nechaevskaya) took only fourth place. Elena Soboleva won the final sprint against the inexperienced Finn, 37 seconds behind Norway. Fifth went to the Americans Bjornsen, Brennan, Patterson and Diggins. Sweden's skaters Ebba Andersson (SWE, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) and Ida Ingemarsdotter (SWE) made a catching up race from eighth to the halfway point of the race, more than sixth after a three-way fight with Norway II (Svendsen / Jacobsen / S.Slind / T .Weng) and the US was no longer possible.
After a furious start by Emil Iversen for Norway I, the pace in the first lap was not quite as fast, keeping the leading group together with few exceptions. In his second lap, however, Iversen significantly sped up, causing the group to fall apart and escape from Evgeniy Belov (RUS) and Didrik Tønseth (NOR, Fischer skis, binds, and boots) from the second Norwegian team. Iversen came seven seconds ahead of his compatriot to the first change, shortly before the handover the Russian wasn't able to follow the Norwegian and sent Alexander Bolshunov (RUS) with 16 seconds backlog on the track. Behind the leader, Sundby, there was a chase duo with Holund and Bolshunov, which Sundby soon recaptured. 30 seconds later followed by a six-man chase group with the USA, France I and II, Germany, Switzerland and Russia II. In the battle for podium Alexander Bolshunov took over the leadership and brought Holund again and again in difficulties, so that he eventually dropped back. In the penultimate climb in front of the stadium, Martin Johnsrud Sundby also could not keep up with the Russian's pace - however, the gap on the second change to Denis Spitsov (RUS, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) and Sjur Røthe was only nine seconds. After the Norwegian had closed the gap quickly, the big tactics began until shortly before the last handover, where an attack was unsuccessful. Finn Hågen Krogh and Andrey Melnichenko now had to make the decision on the last 7.5 kilometers. As expected, the first attack was not until the penultimate climb: When Krogh realized that he could not open a gap, he first decreased the pace, then tried again in the next climb: He was the first to enter the stadium and won the sprint from the lead in front of Andrey Melnichenko (RUS, Fischer skis, bindings and boots). "It's always a tough race against the Russians, they are very strong and have good skis, that's always the same," said Martin Johnsrud Sundby on behalf of the winning team. Norway II with Didrik Tønseth, Hans Christer Holund (NOR), Magne Haga (NOR, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) and Simen Hegstad Krüger (NOR) finished third, 53 seconds back.
