Ilar clams first World Cup win after 'crazy' last lap drama

When Sweden's Moa Ilar finished fourth in the women's classic 10km at the Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Ruka, Finland, on Saturday, it was the best individual result of her career.

But Ilar was not satisfied there. On Sunday, the 26-year-old went on to win the 20km mass start free, claiming her first World Cup victory before USA's Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennan, who finished second and third respectively.

"It was super tough but I'm so happy about the race today," Ilar said.

"I felt better and better and at the end I felt really strong, so I am super happy."

At the 15km mark, a group of 14 skiers had broken free to battle it out for the podium positions in the first freestyle race of the season. Sweden's Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson took turns to lead the pack, Norwegian Margrethe Bergane as well as the two USA skiers making pushes to the front.

With one kilometre to go, the 14 skiers were within five seconds of each other and Ilar made a move to the first place, and kept it to the end.

"It was a tough decision to just go first into the downhill but I'm super happy that I did it," Ilar said.

At the same time Diggins lost her pole, glove and, as it looked, the chance of a podium position. As if that was not enough, the 32-year-old got a bloody injury in her face as she was handed a new pole.

But the American once again displayed the fighting spirit that has made her an Olympic and world champion, taking the second place behind Ilar in the last uphill section, giving the Swede a run for the money.

Sprint expert Ilar, however, using the fast skis of teammate Maja Dahlqvist who had returned home, could hold back to claim the victory 0.3 seconds before Diggins.

"I noticed that Jessie lost her pole and it was crazy but I just tried to stay focused and did what I had to do," Ilar said.

Many of the Swedish skiers and coaching staff had tears in their eyes after the race. So did Ilar, who described crossing the finish line to win her first World Cup race as "amazing".

"It was a tough fight against Jessie but I'm super happy that I'm the one standing highest (on the podium)," Ilar said.

Norway's Lotta Udnes Weng claimed the fourth place in a photo finish with fifth-placed Andersson and Karlsson, who finished sixth, 3.2 seconds after the winner.

Friday's sprint champion Emma Ribom finished seventh to make it four Swedes among the seven first skiers, as Victoria Carl from Germany and France's Delphine Claudel got the eighth and ninth spots, all within seven seconds of Ilar. Norwegian Anne Kjersti Kalvaa completed the top-ten.

As the season's first World Cup weekend concludes, Karlsson leaves Ruka with the yellow bib as the leader of the overall ranking. Brennan, who finished second in the 10km classic on Saturday, is in second place and Diggins in third.

Click here for full results from the women's 20km mass start free.

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