Alvar Myhlback competed alone against five Norwegians in Friday's sprint final. The 19-year-old put on a powerful performance and made it all the way to third place.
Even though the afternoon was a celebration for Norwegian ski king Johannes Høsflot Klæbo – as he took his 100th World Cup victory – the finalists took the opportunity to pay tribute to the young Swede.
He is impressive, and doing it is impressive. He takes advantage of the fact that there are no free zones. But it is impressive, says Høsflot Klæbo.
“He’s going to the Olympics”
Today's sixth Ansgar Evensen is on the same track:
I'm impressed that he can hold the pressure for so long, all the way. He's been practicing it since he was little, but it's still incredibly strong.
One person who found himself overtaken by Myhlback on the run was Lars Heggen.
"It was impressive that he managed to do it on shiny skis. He's insane. I just saw him in the curve and that he had a violent speed," he says.
Heggen himself made his World Cup debut and is considered one of the biggest talents in Norwegian skiing. The 20-year-old hopes that this was not their last duel.
He said before the final that it was preparation for Bad Gastein (the cross-country ski cup starts there next weekend), but I don't believe that. He's going to the Olympics.
The Piken against Myhlback
Are you the next generation of the world elite?
"We are. No doubt about it," Heggen replies.
The only one who doesn't just praise Myhlback is Erik Valnaes. The fifth-place finisher takes the opportunity to send a peck to the Swede instead.
We should be able to keep an eye on that Alvar, says Valnaes and continues:
He is an extremely great talent, but as a Norwegian I still probably prefer Lars Heggen.
The long-distance race cup starts on Saturday, December 13th in Bad Gastein, Austria.
