Two sprint races, two final places.
Competitions are certainly few and the season is still young, but it is a unique achievement for international veteran Calle Halfvarsson.
Even in percentage terms he has never succeeded, even though almost 14 years have passed since his debut in the World Cup.
Of the two winter ones the finals also resulted in a podium place. That the 33-year-old received one lift it’s clear.
Last year he had the pressure to perform in the Tour de Ski to secure an Olympic spot. Looking forward to this year’s tour, which starts with a sprint in Val Müstair on New Year’s Eve, is already toilet ready. Last week, Halfvarsson got his ticket to the championship in Slovenia in February-March and then mentioned the WC sprint as his biggest medal chance.
– I just have to do the right things, no fuss and no complaints… then I think I have a great chance to fight for high positions, says Calle Halfvarsson in a digital press conference.
I just need to do the right things, no jokes and no fuss…
– The critical situation for me is usually going on from the quarter, then it usually gets better and better. But I have high goals. In all distances I compete in the WC, I will aim for my first individual medal.
It’s not even always ran the sprint in the championships. There was no start at either the 2022 Olympics or the 2021 WC.
– I may not always feel like a sprinter, but now things have gone so well in the sprint this year that I’m going for the sprint to the WC. I think it suits me, it’s the classic sprint there.
In the World Cup it is seven of his 17 individual podiums came from sprint racing.
When he now starts the Tour de Ski – the power trial where he was the best third overall (2015) – he can do it calmly.
I don’t have to feel any stress on the tour, I have to perform.
– It was nice to put it on the card that I’m ready for the toilet. So I don’t have to feel any stress on the tour, which I have to perform, like last year.
– I trained well at home and now during the Christmas season you have to stay away from people and large gatherings. The most important thing for me is to feel good. If I stay healthy and eat, sleep and train well, I should probably be in good shape for the tour.
Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT
While Swedish women cross-country ski As the market went up at the start of the season, many of the men have had a more difficult time. The exceptions are Halfvarsson and young duo William Poromaa and Edvin Anger – also WC selections.
– There are some of us who have been up there, but we could be so much more, says Calle Halfvarsson.
– I went to talk a bit to Leo (Johansson, who is the best sixteenth this season) at the track and he is obviously disappointed with the competitions that have been. After all, he has a high capacity and should live up to and fight for both top 15 and top 10 finishes. There are some who haven’t reached their goals yet, but I think they will be performing now after Christmas.
Sprinter Oskar Svensson he was no better than 17th and cross-country skier Jens Burman (who does not participate in the Tour de Ski) is no better than 13th. It’s amazing, says Halfvarsson:
– Yes a bit. Because I know how strong they are. They have a high capacity. They are two skaters who should be able to perform better than they did. But they know it too.
Photo: Terje Pedersen/TT
Read more:
Karlsson and Dahlqvist lead the Tour de Ski
After the Olympics – Hagström already selected for the World Cup: “A relief”
