In the first kilometers Ingvild Flugstad Østberg made the pace and the favorites stayed together in the front, only the weaker athletes fell behind little by little. On the way to the second stadium passage just before kilometer five, five ladies were able to open a gap: From an early attack by Østberg in the Brink uphill in the first part of the third lap, the competitors were perhaps a bit surprised, so that the Norwegian could escape and extend her lead on her way to her next victory. At the finish, she was ten seconds ahead of the pursuit trio, which was destroyed during the fourth lap, but after arriving in the stadium all three were back together. "The race was very, very good of me and I prepared that very well to leave the Russians and Krista Pärmäkoski behind. In the last lap I tried to extend my lead for a few more seconds, so I'm really very happy. It's a good advantage for tomorrow, that's not my parade stage and I'll prepare myself for that", said Østberg, who heads into the final stage tomorrow with 53 seconds of advantage. Natalia Nepryaeva secured second place just ahead of her teammate, although Anastasia Sedova had dropped off a few seconds after the Brink climb. Yulia Belorukova (RUS, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) finished fifth. Sprinter Anamarija Lampic (SLO, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) surprised with a strong eighth place at the top of the chase group ahead of Moa Molander Kristiansen (SWE, Fischer skis, bindings and boots).
It was a mass start in which many athletes set their accents: In lap one, the Swede Viktor Thorn (SWE) attacked on the ascent named after his compatriot Jørgen Brink and was allowed to lead for about a lap with a maximum of six seconds ahead of the field. As the race progressed, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo showed up for the intermediate sprints, which he won confidently, and otherwise led the field together with several Russians. After temporarily the German team holding the first positions for tactical reasons, the pace was significantly increased at the beginning of the last lap. Seven athletes were able to escape: four Russians, the Norwegians Klæbo and Holund (NOR) and local hero Francesco de Fabiani (ITA), who is skiing a very strong tour. Andrey Sobakarev (RUS, Fischer skis and bindings) set the pace for his teammates, followed by Bolshunov (RUS) and "Defa", while Andrey Melnichenko (RUS, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) crashed in the second group in the downhill. On the long Zorzi climb shortly before the finish, the Italian attacked with Alexander Bolshunov at his ski ends and Vylegzhanin/Klæbo directly behind. However, a few meters ahead was not enough for the local hero: past the Russians, the Norwegian with fast skis in the sloping terrain sucked on the Italian and outsprinted him on the home straight. Andrey Larkov (RUS, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) finished fourth ahead of Maxim Vylegzhanin (RUS, Fischer skis and bindings) and Andrey Sobakarev. Denis Spitsov (RUS, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) emerged from the chasing group out of eighth place, Martin Johnsrud Sundby (NOR, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) finished tenth before the crashed Melnichenko.
