Louise Lindström was in 20th place overall, five and a half minutes behind leader Natalya Neprjajeva, before the sixth and final stage.
But the Swede would slip down to 35th place once the competition was over.
In the first intermediate time at 2.3 kilometers, Lindström was a full 42 seconds behind Johanna Hagström in the lead.
The reason was a crash early in the race.
- It was the first downhill and it was crowded.
My skis disappear under me and all of a sudden I'm lying in the snow and the whole starting field goes past me.
I have to take myself to the slopes, she tells SVT Sport.
How do you proceed from such an event?
- It is difficult.
I get a tough trip and I never get in touch with the cluster until the bottom of the hill and then I have wasted all my energy on getting there.
I'll ruin the whole race after about a kilometer.
"I want to go home"
When Lindström finally managed to fight her way over the finish line, she broke down and was comforted by the Swedish leaders on the spot.
- I want to go home and compete a little more before I can let go of this, she says.