The Norwegian Birkebeinerrennet, the eleventh competition in the cross-country Cup Ski Classics, is one of the most legendary long-distance races in the world.
In the starting field were several skiers from the World Cup in cross-country skiing who wanted to extend the season.
Among others, Therese Johaug, who said that she will end her career after the season.
And Johaug made a strong effort.
The Norwegian was in the lead battle throughout the race together with two other Norwegians, Astrid Öyre Slind and Emelie Fleten.
With a few kilometers left, Johaug and Slind withdrew and it was in the end the two who made up for the victory.
With a few hundred meters left, Slind put in a higher gear and was able to sprint past Johaug and secure his third victory in the Ski Classics before Johaug.
Best Swedish was Britta Johansson Norgren in fourth place.
Double Swedish on the podium
On the men's side, it was a deal with a large cluster that made up for the victory, with, among others, the Swedish mare Max Novak and Emil Persson.
The Norwegian Andreas Nygaard was the strongest of all in the sprint in the race and took home the victory.
But behind him, it was double Swedish on the podium.
Max Novak sprinted to second place and behind him in third place came Emil Persson.
Drama in the Norwegian team
With five kilometers left of the race, Nygaard made a move away from Max Novak and the rest of the group and it became a bit of drama.
When Nygaard's teammate Johan Holl gets up and pulls in the chasing cluster.
Something that Nygaard was not happy with.
- I start to pull away and then I see that Johan is up and pulling.
It's not entirely okay to do so, so I called on him to borrow someone else to step forward.
So there was a bit of talk there, but that's what happens in the heat of battle, says the Norwegian winner.