- Jessie chooses to prepare for the sprint relay on Sunday instead, says the American national team's press manager Leann Bentley to Expressen.

Diggins showed good form in the last World Cup race before the WC when she finished second in the 10 km race in Toblach with only Ebba Andersson ahead of her.

In Thursday's sprint in classic style, Diggins was 14th in the qualifier, 9.42 behind the winning Jonna Sundling.

In the quarter-finals, she was then eliminated as fifth in the fifth heat, a full 4.59 behind the winning Johanna Hagström.

- The course was absolutely crazy.

It was salted the night before but it was broken and sloppy, Diggins told the US Ski Association after the sprint.

"It was one of the most challenging conditions I've competed in and I learned a lot for the upcoming races," said Diggins, who is expected to run Sunday's sprint relay with Rosie Brennan.

Sundling and Ribom are believed to run the sprint relay

The Swedish team for the sprint relay has not been selected, but it has previously been said that none of those who run Saturday's skiathlon over 15 km will be relevant.

Saturday's team consists of Ebba Andersson, Frida Karlsson, Moa Ilar and Linn Svahn.

With that logic, Linn Svahn is therefore not relevant for the sprint relay, even if nothing has been communicated.

Is it clear that you and Jonna Sundling are running the sprint relay?

- We shall see.

We are a lot of strong girls fighting for two places, but I am very excited, says Ribom, who has just received her silver medal while loud music drowns out much of what she says to SVT Sport.

The podium from Thursday's individual sprint was: Jonna Sundling, Emma Ribom and Maja Dahlqvist.

Dahlqvist got the nod in the skiathlon: "Understands the decision"

- I was told that I was not selected for the skiathlon that I had wanted to run.

I understand the decision, says Dahlqvist about having been knocked out for Saturday's race.

How do you see the future in the championship?

Which races do you want to run?

- It is clear that I want to run the relays, but we will see how it turns out.

There is stiff competition and I can't do more now, she says.

Saturday's skiathlon starts at 14.00 and Sunday's sprint relay at 11.30 (qualifying) and 13.30 (final).