It was triple Norwegian in the sprint in Ruka that started this World Cup season in cross-country skiing.

But the surprise was that it was not Kläbo who won.

Erik Valnes matched him uphill and then entered the race first and won.

Emil Iversen was third before the Russian Alexander Bolshunov.

Johan Häggström became the best Swede when he reached the semifinals in time as the last skier.

He was three thousandths faster than the Russian Yevgeny Belov and that was what took him to the semi.

Once in the semifinals, three Norwegians and the Russian Alexander Bolshunov faced tough opposition.

- It has felt good.

I have felt strong.

But you always want more.

It was not far to the final anyway, says Häggström to SVT Sport and continues:

- I buffalo a bit with Bolshunov, so it was not perfect.

But good that it feels good anyway.

Oskar Svensson was close to moving on from a tough quarter-final, but he did not catch up with the Norwegian duo with Håvard Solås Taugböl and Pål Golberg in the sprint.

If Häggström was half satisfied, Svensson was broken after the sprint.

- Sickly disappointed, but I ride badly tactically.

I go exactly as I say I should not go.

I feel very strong, so it feels really sad not to be allowed to continue riding, he says.