The 18-year-old skiing talent Alvar Myhlback ended up in the spotlight earlier in the week since he was critical of not being selected for the Junior World Championship in traditional cross-country skiing. The reason for the omission is that Myhlback has not participated in the qualifying competitions required by the association.
The plan was for Myhlback to have participated in the long-distance race Marcialonga, which is part of the Ski Classics long-distance cup, but before the start in Italy, SVT received the message that the 18-year-old would not participate due to a slight cold.
"Haunt me"
It was the Norwegian duo Amund Hoel and Andreas Nygård, as well as Swede Max Novak, who competed for victory in the 70-kilometer-long race in the Val di Fiemme area.
About 200 meters before the finish line, Hoel was dropped, but Novak could not quite challenge Nygård in a duel on the final stretch.
I probably have honorable podium places, I feel. It would have been nice to get a full hit here. I had the body for it, says Max Novak to SVT.
Novak regrets not being the one to take command and take the lead. It was exactly what Nygård did.
It will probably haunt me for a while, says the Swede.
Larsson fourth in the women's class
Second place is Novak's best placement in the "Italian Vasaloppet".
It's clear that it's not bad to come second in Marcialonga, but today I should have won, says Max Novak.
Norwegian long-distance skiing queen Emilie Fleten looked several times like she was out of the running during the race, but came back and won the women's class ahead of compatriot Silje Øyre Slind. It was an all-Norwegian podium on the women's side since Anikken Gjerde Alnæs sprinted past Swede Jenny Larsson in the battle for third place.
