Ebba Andersson replaced Frida Karlsson in fourth, after a fall on her stretch.
Then Karlsson began to catch up with Germany, Finland and Norway.
For a while Karlsson led the field, but then the Norwegian Ingvild Flugstad Östberg pulled away, Karlsson had nothing to oppose at all.
At the switch, she was 14 seconds behind Norway.
- It feels quite sour right now and it feels like I'm the one who's letting the team down today, it's shit, says an obviously taken Karlsson to SVT Sport after the competition.
What is it like to feel it?
- No, I don't know, it's just sad.
Had bad skis: "Then it's hard to keep up"
Does it get more difficult when it's a relay race and you ride with others?
- Yes, I sort of think I'm at a good distance with Ingvild (Flugstad Östberg) at the top, but partly I'll be in her slip (in the suction, also called), she had great skis today and then it's hard to keep up .
You didn't have good skis?
- No, I don't actually have that, but no, it's sad.
"Just to break up and come again"
After the race, Frida Karlsson collapsed and had to be led out of the arena.
- I'm giving everything I have today, so it was just a matter of squeezing out the last bit, even if I was forced to let go, every meter can be important.
According to Karlsson, there should be no danger ahead of the closing three-mile.
- Now it's just a matter of breaking up and coming back, she says in conclusion.