The 35-year-old was 19.4 seconds behind the leader after 5 kilometers and the next intermediate time, at 6.3, was never reached by the Swede.
Halfvarsson chose to break off the last competition during the World Cup in Norwegian Lillehammer.
"Radiating pain in my legs"
The reason?
His back.
I don't recognize my body. I had no energy during the warm-up and it's like I'm skiing with half a body, one side doesn't work, he says to Viaplay.
My back is acting up. It's radiating down into my legs. I have to check what it is.
Calle Halfvarsson broke off the Swedish ski premiere in Bruksvallarna at the end of November due to back problems. He was, however, cleared to compete in the World Cup premiere in Ruka, Finland, and became 12th in the 10 km classic and then 29th in the 20 km freestyle.
In Lillehammer, he became 33rd in the 10 km freestyle but then chose to drop out of the skiathlon over 20 km.
Skipping Davos
And there will be no World Cup skiing in Swiss Davos, which takes place on December 13-15.
It's probably not a good idea to go to high altitude now, says Halfvarsson to Aftonbladet and means that he instead aims for the Tour de Ski, which starts on December 28.
The best of the Swedes was William Poromaa. The 23-year-old was in the lead group throughout the race but tired and became 11th, 23.8 seconds after the winner Harald Østberg Amundsen, Norway.
I have to let go of the "skate". It's so damn bad, says Poromaa to Viaplay.
I think I'm energetic but I'm still not going. Either I'm devilishly bad or... I don't know what it is, I just get so tired.
Jan Thomas Jenssen and Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget made sure the podium was filled with Norwegian skiers.
