Edvin Anger received a significant boost after changing his approach. Now, the Swedish cross-country star is following Klæbo’s recipe for success — and investing about 400,000 EUR of his own money in pursuit of becoming the best in the World.

Last winter, Anger dominated the U23 World Cup and finished second overall in the World Cup standings, only behind Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. It was the best result for a Swedish male skier in 21 years.

Barely a month before the new season begins, Edvin Anger is brimming with confidence. He believes he’s in even better shape than last year.

“When I was at my best last winter, I did a small control session. I’m already at that level again now — even though I’m a few kilos heavier, which will be gone before the season starts,” Anger told Expressen.

When speaking to Langrenn.com, Anger was clear about two things: it is possible to beat Klæbo, but extremely difficult.

Precisely what does it take to beat Klæbo? 

“You need to have a great day, with both your body and skis at 100 percent. Then you need some luck with positioning — and you have to hope Klæbo isn’t having a 100 percent day himself,” Anger said.

Also Read: Anger hires his father – with the goal of winning an Olympic medal

Fired his agent

Anger is convinced that his recent progress stems from a crucial decision he made earlier this year.

In the spring, he ended his partnership with his agent and turned down all new offers of representation. Instead, he built his own small team, hand-picking support staff.

Now, his team consists of two people:

• His father, Fredrik Anger, as sports director in charge of sponsors and partnerships.
• Mattias Bångman, as brand strategist responsible for communication and social media.

“It’s been a huge boost. The quality has improved across everything we do,” says the 23-year-old.

“We’re a small, tight team, so things get done quickly — and without unnecessary costs.”

Investing about 400,000 EUR per season

However, “cheap” is not the right word. The annual budget is around 400,000 euros, financed by a mix of personal sponsors — including mining company Boliden and billionaire Christer Gardell — and Anger’s own prize money and bonuses. Last season, he earned approximately 145,000 euros in winnings.

The goal of this setup mirrors Klæbo’s: to create the best possible conditions for performance and development.

“He can travel better, stay better, and avoid squeezing into crowded buses or cars when it’s unnecessary,” his father explained.

Copying the best from Klæbo

When Anger decided to hire his father, he reached out to Haakon Klæbo, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo’s father, for advice on building such a setup from scratch.

“Haakon was completely open about everything — what they did and how they work today,” said Fredrik Anger. “We’ve adopted some of those ideas.”

The similarities don’t end there. Both skiers have private training facilities at home, including roller ski treadmills and specialized equipment.

Anger also plans to launch his own altitude training program after the 2027 World Championships in Falun.

Staying with the national team

Like Klæbo, however, Anger intends to remain part of the national team.

“There are no plans to leave the national team. It’s extremely important for Edvin,” confirmed his father.

Fredrik Anger, who runs a sports store in their hometown of Hedemora, now works part-time for his son — about three days a week, sometimes more. He does not plan to accompany Edvin to competitions.

“I won’t be at the World Cups this winter. My focus will be on Pelle (Edvin’s younger brother). He’ll get exactly the same support Edvin got as a junior — I’ve been very clear about that,” he said.

The Cross-Country World Cup season starts in Ruka, Finland, on November 28, while the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina take place from February 6–22.

Also Read
Cross-country skiing World Cup: Calendar for the 2025/2026 winter season
Program for cross-country skiing at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

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