With everyone healthy and well, Sweden was able to line up with its top skaters in today's general practice ahead of the WC in Oberhof, which begins on February 8.
It also started promisingly for the Swedish part as Linn Persson was responsible for a fine first stretch and switched to second, eight seconds after France's Lou Jeanmonnot.
- There was such a big difference in the skiing compared to yesterday.
Today I was able to get out what I had in my body and it was very nice, says Persson.
"Don't really know what's going on"
For Anna Magnusson, it was worse.
She had big problems in her prone shooting and missed two shots before she finally managed to put in her last extra shot.
- I don't really know what's going on, I made the assessment that I wouldn't have to screw, that I could withstand the small wind, but then when I miss two I pull a few notches to the left and think that should help.
It's easy to start worrying about a penalty round, so I'm glad I managed to score the extra shots, says Magnusson, who then finished strongly with good skating and a stable standing shot.
She shifted fifth, 49 seconds from the lead.
Problems for Elvira in the last shot
Then it was time for The Hanna Öberg show.
She rode incredibly fast, shot just as well and when she switched to her sister Elvira as second she had gained over half a minute on leading France.
- It was a situation where you wanted to go out hard.
One slips outside lying down, but I still think I'm effective and I shoot full stop.
It was an extremely long time you took in, are you surprised yourself?
- Yes, but she (Chloé Chevalier) must have probably gotten a little tired too.
Overall, I'm very happy with my route.
However, Elvira had nothing against France's Julia Simon on the final stretch.
The 26-year-old Frenchwoman convinced as much on the shooting range as in the tracks, and Sweden had to settle for second place after Elvira had big problems in the last shoot.
At the finish line, she was 45 seconds behind France.