Jonna Sundling has been strong in the qualifiers this season, as well as today, but in the heats the others have passed. In Minneapolis, the situation finally changed, as Sundling took his season-opening win by 0.9 seconds over Linn Svahn. The sprint Olympic champion and two-time world champion led the final from start to finish.
Kristine Stavås Skistad got on the podium again, as she was third in the race. The big favorite of the home crowd, Jessie Diggins, could no longer match the top three, and she was fourth in the race.
Victoria Carl was fifth in the race. This season, Emma Ribom, who won two sprints, crashed right at the end of the starting straight and finished last in the final.
Women, sprint (v) Final
1. Jonna Sundling SWE 3.06.40 2. Linn Svahn SWE +0.95 3. Kristine S. Skistad NOR +2.68 4. Jessie Diggins USA +4.89 5. Victoria Carl GER +14.8 6. Emma Ribom SWE +47.47
19. Jasmi Joensuu 23. Kerttu Niskanen