It was on the last day of competition in Le Grand Bornand, Annecy, that Samuelsson took the start in the mass start and finished by far last as 30th man after five barriers and almost three minutes behind in the track over 15 km.

He was 4.16 behind the victorious Norwegian Johannes Dale.

Incidentally, five of the first six were Norwegian.

- I don't feel completely one hundred today.

But you know that you must not cancel any competitions, and hope for the last one, he told SVT Sport.

This season includes all competitions in the World Cup - unlike in the past, when you could cancel the two worst ones.

“Still have a cough”

"I've had a simple cold, been quite energetic but still have a lingering cough, so I haven't been able to train since we got home," writes Samuelsson to SVT Sport.

He is in the final stages of his cold.

"Hopefully I'll be ready to start training tomorrow," he continues.

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Hear Sebastian Samuelsson after the last place

Anna Magnusson, who roared to take the first World Cup victory in her 131st World Cup start after having been seventh best before, is also ill.

This is about covid-19.

She is uncertain before the restart of the World Cup in Pokljuka, Slovenia, January 5-8.