A rested Ebba Andersson, who did not take part in yesterday's successful sprint, was back on track for the first time since she broke the Tour de Ski.
20 km classic mass start was on the agenda in Oberhof and the Swedes started strongly.
After four kilometers Ebba Andersson, Frida Karlsson and Linn Svahn formed a top trio.
The same trio remained in the lead with two laps remaining after just over 13 kilometers.
However, it was still even in the field where 15 riders were within nine seconds when the last lap began.
With 500 meters to go, Frida Karlsson made a move and won the race ahead of the German Katharina Hennig and the Finnish Kerttu Niskanen.
The victory was the Swede's first in the World Cup in a year.