Emilia Farlin (FDJ-SUEZ-Futuroscope) came close to winning the second stage of the Tour of Scandinavia when she was passed by Marianne Vos (Team Jumbo Visma) in the final meters. It would have been a popular victory for the Swedish sprinter in her home country.

Farlin had already finished second to Vos in two stages of the Ladies Tour of Norway, the predecessor to the Tour of Scandinavia, four years earlier.

"I have exactly the same memories as in 2018 when I came so close to winning. I could see the finish line and she came up behind me and just slid through. It was a little heartbreaking, but at the same time it was really cool to be on the podium here in Sweden with so many fans cheering for me," she said.

After finishing ninth in the one-day race and first stage of Vårgårda West Sweden, Fahlin showed that she had regained her top form after three injury-plagued years and was looking for even better results in the second stage.

On the straight before the finish, she launched a sprint and led for a long time. In the last 70 meters, she fought hard to break out of Farrin's slipstream and passed him by a few centimeters.

"I wanted to change something from yesterday's sprint. The finish straight was long, so I started a little early so I wouldn't have to box in. It was just a little too far to the line," Farrin explained.

The Ladies Tour of Norway is centered in the Norwegian border town of Halden and often passes through neighboring countries, starting in Stremstad and the Svinessen Bridge that connects the two countries. Wednesday's second stage of the Tour of Scandinavia, with a finish in Stremstad, marked the first time the entire stage was held in Sweden.

Farlin graciously accepted defeat, thanking his Swedish fans when he was awarded the podium-only jersey for best Swede and jokingly asking the race organization to move the finish line a little closer on the next stage.

The Tour of Scandinavia will now hold the remaining four stages in Norway.