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It was an impressive effort that Leagreid put in in his fifth World Cup race.
– I was very surprised when I heard that he was leading. I could never dream of this. I was thinking of doing my own career, says Laegreid in the interview with SVT.
He was forced shoot squarely on the last shot to keep compatriot Johannes Thingnes Bø behind.
Laegreid, who has not missed a shot thus far, didn’t flinch when he set his sights.
Five hits and no missing 20 shots meant he could come in as a winner.
– It’s good to do it in a World Cup but I know there will be barriers, you can’t do without it.
Johannes Thingnes Bø, who won the world cup last year, had to come second.
Quentin Fillon Maillet of France was looking to take third place, but Erik Lesser of Germany, who hasn’t been on the podium in the last three seasons, won that second battle.
Czech Republic Ondrej Moravec shot straight, which they also did at the Swedish premiere in Idre two weeks ago, but that was only enough for a fifth place finish.
Sebastian Samuelsson started with a boom in lying and also blocked on foot but then shot full.
Thanks to a rough ride, Samuelsson, who won twice at Idre, managed to finish sixth.
– I’ve never ridden so well. I started quite strong and managed to keep the same pace all the time, I am very happy with my effort, Samuelsson tells SVT.
The Swedes always opened very strong in skiing and it was especially Martin Ponsiluoma who impressed with his speed.
But already in the first shot laid, the dream of a prominent position for Ponsiluoma was broken, two arms gave two minutes of penalty, which is too much in this company.
In total, Ponsiluoma got an extra five minutes on the horizontal shot alone and finished in 51st position.
Jesper Nelin rode well but he missed a shot in both the first and second firing stations and was also far behind the leader already after the middle of the race.
– I think I had a good race anyway, says Nelin, who finished in 32nd place, to SVT.
On Sunday, sprinting will be decided for both men and women.
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