Last year, several competitors were disqualified during the 20 km mass start classic race in Borås due to intense competition, according to multiple reports. 5 km loop repeated multiple times because organizers could only create a short loop due to lack of snow. SVT's television crew demanded that competitors being lapped be removed from the track to ensure optimal television production, which contributed to the disqualifications.
The change this year came as a surprise to SVT, which would have preferred to continue with last year's practice. However, SVT accepts the competition organizers' decision because changing the practice back to last year's would come too late and cause unnecessary anger, according to the broadcaster. SVT's directives during last year's national championships created an uproar among skiers, as reported by Expressen Sport.