In the third day of competitions at the Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Falun, Sweden, the home fans got a victory to cheer for.
Sweden won the mixed 4x5km relay classic/free on Sunday after a strong last leg from sprint ace Jonna Sundling, earning the hosts their first win this weekend.
The 28-year-old had broken away from the field early into Saturday’s sprint, but been denied the first place by Norway’s Kristine Stavaas Skistad, who had come back strongly in the final stretch.
On Sunday, Sundling made no mistake. In the first three legs – two classic and one free – Teammates Calle Halfvarsson, Moa Ilar and Edvin Anger had set her up to a good position right behind the front runners.
Sundling started in fourth place, 2.6 seconds behind leading Italy, and finished 4.6 seconds before Anne Kjersti Kalvaa who gave Norway I the second place. Germany I finished third.
“It’s so nice (to win), especially with these guys,” Sundling said, praising her teammates.
She and Ilar had put glitter on their cheeks for the glorious end to a long competition week.
“It was good. I had some power in the legs left in the end that I could use,” Sundling said.
“It was my third competition (in three days) so I didn’t know how my body was going to feel at the end of this, but it was good.”
