Fellow Swede and sprint leader Jonna Sundling was unable to compete at the Ski Arena in Germany due to a cold, with compatriot Stina Nilsson also missing. 

However, Sweden's strength in depth was on show in the individual sprint.

Anamarija Lampic from Slovenia had topped qualifying and was chasing Svahn down in the final stretch. 

But the support of compatriots Maja Dahlqvist and Linn Soemskar helped Svahn to victory in 2min, 31.50sec. 

Lamic took a photo-finish for second in 2:31.71, with Dahlqvist in third. 

"Our plan was to be in the lead in the final stretch and then just to give it all and hope it was enough," the triumphant Svahn said. 

 In the men's competition, Lucas Chanavat from France kept his cool, leading the qualification and the final heat. 

He won the sprint in 2:14.81, 0.61 seconds ahead of last year's victor, Sindre Bjoernestad Skar from Norway.

Bronze went to Sweden's Johan Haeggstroem in 2:15.77.

"I was hoping for a World Cup victory this year, but was not expecting it to happen so fast," Chanavat said.   

The team sprint competitions conclude the event tomorrow.