With four straight victories, 27-year-old Emil Persson has gained a solid grip on the yellow leader's vest with a lead of 401 points in total in Ski Classics.

Tomorrow is the season's fifth race, 48 kilometers in La Diagonela in Switzerland.

- The fact that you get to lead the yellow jersey so much, it gives a great deal of calm before La Diagonela, which is the next competition and also beyond January, I would say.

I know where I am, I know that I don't have to chase anything and it's incredibly nice, says Persson to SVT Sport.

Last year, Persson finished second overall but then had a significantly heavier start to the season.

After victory in the prologue in Orsa, it took six races before he reached a podium again.

- I remember last year, when I wasn't in good shape at all in January.

So then you were so lost, chasing so much, you don't know where to go but now I know.

You are in good shape and that creates a very good calm in the body and in the head.

Photo: SVT

Emil Persson has now taken 13 victories in total in Ski Classics and is thus one of the leading men's skiers ever in terms of number of victories.

Each win has individual value and the work on the way to victory provides invaluable knowledge for the future.

- It is clear that I "cave" in details.

There are always bits during a race that I'm dissatisfied with, but then it's much less that you're dissatisfied with when you've managed to win, says Emil Persson to SVT Sport.

Follow the race from La Diagonela directly in the Winter studio tomorrow starting at 08:45.

Meet Emil Persson in a longer report below:

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Reportage: Meet Emil Persson after the successful start