Last year there was a Swedish double victory in Vasaloppet - by Alvar Myhlback and Stina Nilsson.
The then 18-year-old Myhlback became the youngest winner ever in Vasaloppet - and Norwegian Kasper Stadaas believes he will be hard to beat.
"Alvar Myhlback will be the most difficult; I don't know how to handle him. He is the big favorite," says Stadaas at a press conference.
At the same time, Myhlback does not see himself as the favorite.
"I think the winner will probably be someone who has raced well at Vasaloppet before. Then it's just silly to speculate about who the biggest favorite is," says Myhlback.
Preparations for Vasaloppet
Myhlback comes directly from the Winter Olympics into preparations for Vasaloppet.
Despite finishing ninth and being the best Swede in the men's classic sprint, he had to go home - something he knew beforehand.
"I already knew that before I went to the Olympics. It's just something that has been built up in the media and there has never been any problem or grudge between me and the national team," Myhlback said at a press conference.
After leaving Italy, Myhlback has had time to prepare for Vasaloppet.
"If it has worked as well as in previous years, I think we will see it on Sunday. But it feels good right now and we trained very hard last week and not as hard this week. Now we are just trying to build up the energy and get stronger from last week's training," says Myhlback.
Clash with the World Cup
During the same weekend, both Vasaloppet and the World Cup take place simultaneously in Dalarna.
"It's a shame for the World Cup in Falun that Vasaloppet will take all the credit that weekend," says Myhlback.
"It's Vasaloppet that matters, so everything else that happens is not that important," he says.
At the press conference, Myhlback is also asked about Norwegian cross-country star Johannes Høsflot Klæbo - who won six gold medals at the Winter Olympics in Italy.
"He's inhuman. He's good at everything. Maybe my top level in just doubles is about as high as his level in everything," Myhlback says of Klæbo.
What: Vasaloppet, the world's largest cross-country ski race, 90 km.
When: Sunday, March 1, starting at 8:00 AM.
Where: Sälen to Mora.
TV and radio: SVT1/SVT Play: 07:30-21:00. P4 Radiosporten.
Name: Alvar Myhlback.
Sports: Cross-country skiing.
Born: March 22, 2006 (age 19).
Association/club: Bjursås IK.
Vasaloppet Merits: Alvar Myhlback has raced the main race (90 km) three times. In 2023 he made his debut and finished eighth. In 2024 he followed up with third place. In 2025 he became the youngest winner ever in Vasaloppet.
Merits Winter Olympics: Myhlback made his debut in the Winter Olympics in Italy in 2026. There he competed in the men's classic sprint - and became the best Swede in ninth place.
World Cup achievements 2025/2026: In Trondheim 2025, he took his first podium in the World Cup - and came in third place.
