The 19-year-old Swedish skier Alvar Myhlback is set to challenge Johannes Høsflot Klæbo in the Olympic classic sprint in Val di Fiemme. He is pleased that there will be no no-poling zones on the course, favoring his poling technique. As an Olympic debutant, Myhlback believes he can reach his full potential.
Alvar Myhlback, a 19-year-old from Bjursås, is the long-distance skier aiming high ahead of Tuesday's Olympic classic sprint in Val di Fiemme. As an Olympic debutant, he has already impressed by winning the Vasaloppet last year at age 18 using poling, and this year he claimed his first World Cup podium with third place in classic style in Trondheim in early December.
Myhlback plans to race without grip wax and pole around the course. A welcome update is that race organizers are unlikely to introduce no-poling zones, which he views as a chance to showcase his full potential. "A possibility for me to actually reach my full potential," he says.
Regarding the Norwegian ski king Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, 29, with six Olympic golds and 15 World Championship golds, Myhlback is undaunted. Klæbo dominated the final sprint in Sunday's skiathlon, but that was in skate style. "That was skate. Now we're doing classic, so it doesn't scare me as much," Myhlback tells the Swedish press corps.
He acknowledges Klæbo's uphill prowess: "In that hill... he's been superior for as long as he's been skiing. So it will take a lot for me to keep up with him. But that's my goal." On the finish straight, he feels confident: "I'm not afraid of him on an uphill finish."
National team coach Anders Byström is fascinated by the talent: "That boy... He could be extremely good, but it could also go the other way. I think many are afraid of him." Myhlback has prepared using a poling machine at the hotel.
Sweden's men's sprint quartet consists of Edvin Anger, 23; Anton Grahn, 21; Johan Häggström, 33; and Alvar Myhlback, 19.