The young Swedish talent initially showed little interest in the World Cup, but eventually decided to travel to Ruka. According to Swedish media, his change of plans came after a private meeting in a small cabin outside Gällivare.

At the national season opener in Gällivare, Alvar Myhlback was first disqualified in the sprint. The next day, the 19-year-old long-distance specialist went straight onto the podium in the 10km. Then he skipped Sunday’s race in favor of a SkiErg session and said the World Cup and traditional cross-country skiing were not among his priorities.

And then, suddenly, Myhlback changed course. When the selection for the World Cup in Ruka was announced, the young phenomenon was included.

Also Read: Swedish national team for the Ruka World Cup premiere

Secret meeting

The U-turn is said to have happened after a meeting in a small cabin outside Gällivare—a meeting nobody wants to talk about.

Swedish national team manager Anders Byström will neither confirm nor deny it. He tells SVT that there were no “hostage negotiations” in the meeting with Myhlback, but he refuses to comment on what was discussed or said.

“What we said in that room stays there,” Byström tells Expressen.

Myhlback is also tight-lipped about the meeting.

“They asked if I wanted to come here (to Ruka) and race the sprint and the 10km, and I said yes.”

Klæbo begs him to reconsider

The young star certainly hasn’t wasted the opportunity.

In Friday’s 10km classic, the season’s first World Cup race, Myhlback finished 16th and was the second-best Swede.

Read More: Nyenget wins Ruka 10km classic

In Saturday’s sprint, he raised the level again. The 19-year-old Vasaloppet champion and long-distance specialist placed fifth in his semifinal, finished ninth overall, and was the only Swede to advance from the quarterfinals.

Also Read: Klæbo powers to classic sprint win in Ruka

Myhlback leads the U23 World Cup, and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo is begging the Swedish teenager to reconsider. He hopes Myhlback will drop Ski Classics and focus on the World Cup instead.

Preparation for the Ski Classics season

“It wasn’t a given that I would go to Ruka. Things started spinning in my head after Gällivare last weekend when I realized, ‘damn, I actually skied pretty fast today.’ How should I think if they ask me?”

When the national team asked if he wanted to race in Ruka, Myhlback had a long conversation with his long-distance team boss at Lager 157 Ski Team.

“We talked for an hour about what Ruka would mean for the season, both short and long-term. We concluded that it could be good preparation for the Ski Classics opener in Bad Gastein in two weeks,” Myhlback says.

Pro Team Director Anton Jernberg says he and Myhlback agree on a long-term plan for the season and don’t believe Ruka will change that.

“The important thing for us is that he stays focused on the long-term plan we’ve agreed on, and I know he will.”

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