Convincing Team Sprint win in Davos for Sweden's world champions

Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist in Sweden's first team crushed the competition in the Women's Team Sprint Free at the Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Davos, Switzerland, on Friday.

The Olympic Team Sprint silver medallists, who have won two world titles together in the event, had the fastest qualifying time and made no mistake in the evening final at one of the highest-altitude venues on the World Cup circuit.

Dahlqvist created a "perfect gap" for Sundling, who claimed her second consecutive Team Sprint victory in Davos with a solo cruise in the final leg, beating runners-up Astrid Oeyre Slind and Mathilde Myhrvold of Norway II by 3.26 seconds. Norway's first team, with Kristin Austgulen Fosnaes and Kristine Stavaas Skistad, completed the podium.

"It was really fun," Dahlqvist said.

"It was really tough, the altitude is really painful so I was really happy that I could give Jonna a little gap to the last leg."

Norway had matched distance experts Slind and Fosnaes in their first legs to push the pace, with sprint specialists Myhrvold and Skistad in the second legs. The Swedish teams – so competitive that last weekend's Sprint winner, Johanna Hagstroem, was left out – however made sure to stay at the front of the 15-team pack to control the pace.

Sweden's first team was in first place after the 3km mark and never let go, three-time Team Sprint world champion Dahlqvist finishing her third and last leg with a strong push that Sundling could build upon.

"It was a perfect gap," said Sundling, who won the event in Davos one year ago, competing with Ribom.

The 30-year-old Olympic and world champion in individual Sprint got off to an explosive start of her third leg, keeping Sweden's momentum as she extended the gap to the rest that Dahlqvist had created, cruising solo to the victory.

Dahlqvist praised the evening race, with fires lighting up the dark December evening as skiers came into the last curve, in the Swiss ski resort that has hosted World Cup races almost every year since 1982.

"It's really cool. I love Davos so it's perfect."

When Sundling set off after the final handover, the race turned into a tight battle for the second place, as Myhrvold and Skistad were followed by Coletta Rydzek of Germany I, who had taken over the fourth place from Svahn. Myhrvold kept her lead to the finish and could cross the line one fifth of a second before her teammate, as Germany I finished fourth, 0.08 seconds outside of the podium.

Sweden II had to settle for a fifth place, 5.79 seconds behind their winning teammates, as Finland's first team, consisting of Jasmin Kahara and last year's Sprint World Cup winner Jasmin Joensuu, claimed sixth place, Joensuu finishing 0.03 of a second after Svahn.

The World Cup weekend in Davos continues on Saturday with the Men's and Women's Sprint Free.

Click here for full results from the Women’s Team Sprint Free and here to follow FIS Cross-Country on Youtube.