Maiden World Cup victory for Maja Dahlqvist in Ulricehamn

After exciting competitions in the former World Championships venue of Falun, the Cross-Country World Cup family moved 400km south within Sweden to Ulricehamn. For the first time, Ulricehamn hosted a Sprint weekend.

Home town heroes, Johanna Hagström and Hanna Falk set the fastest time in the womens qualification. In the heats, the local athletes impressively showed how to tackle the technical sprint course in ideal line. Nevertheless, both were not only contested by their strong team colleagues but amongst others by the current World Cup leader, Jessie Diggins (USA) as well as Anamarija Lampic (SLO) who currently holds the red bib for the Sprint World Cup lead.

Amonst the pace makers was Maja Dahlqvist (SWE) who remained right up front from the quarter finals. The 26 year-old Sprinter who has regularly made it to the podium of Sprint competitions in the past three years, took her chances to launch her maiden World Cup victory: "I just had a really great day and everything worked out perfectly, my skis, my shape and the course that really suit me. It feels so great to finally have my first World Cup victory". Dahlqvist had to fight for her milestone until the last stretch of the course. With Johanna Hagström in the back and Jessie Diggins pulling out on her seemingly never ending energy, the podium spots got decided within 0.4 seconds. Hagström thus celebrates her careers best result with her 2nd place.

Just past the podium but happy with her fourth rank finished Hanna Falk who had struggled with injuries in the last years: "It's been a great experience to be back racing and I managed better than I would have expected so for me I can be very happy about my fourth place".

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Top-10 check

Besides Maja Dahlqvist's maiden World Cup victory and Johanna Hagströms maiden podium, many athletes set personal best's after todays Sprint F.

Sofie Krehl (GER) hits her career's best individual result with todays 8th place.
Tereza Beranova (CZE) put up with the speed of the fastest heats and missed the lucky looser position to the finals by a glimpse. Nevertheless, Tereza celebrates her career's best result with a 9th place.
Jasmi Joensuu (FIN) repeats her 10th rank after Falun and confirms her skills in Sprints at her only 17th individual World Cup race.