Alvar Myhlback returned home from the Junior World Championships with two gold medals. His preparation was not optimal due to the cold he contracted before the competitions.

“I got a cold after Marcialonga and did my first training session the day before the 20km skate, but after a hard session and an extra training day, my form got better and better,” says Alvar Myhlback to Langd.se.

After the two golds, he was celebrated in his hometown, Bjursås/Sweden, on Tuesday evening. It was the ski club Bjursås IK that organized a small celebration, and a large group of people gathered to celebrate Alvar’s success.

“It was a surprise. I was watching TV, and suddenly, the whole backyard was full of people. It was really fun, and I’m very happy to have that support,” Alvar says.

Improving form

Myhlback believes and hopes that his form is better for the competitions in Orsa than it was during the World Championships.

“The last few days have been really good and maybe my form is even better than during the Championships.”

What are your goals for the competitions in Orsa?

“I hope that I can fight for podium places this weekend. It’s hard to know how the form is, but my hope is that it’s okay now for the weekend and very good for Vasaloppet.”

Read More: Emil Persson is looking forward for the Ski Classics competitions in Sweden

After Vasaloppet, there are both World Cup competitions and Ski Classics. Alvar hopes that he can compete in both.

“There’s a World Cup in Falun where I live, so I really hope to be at the start there. But also, maybe participate in some long-distance races at the end. I have a plan up to Vasaloppet, and then we’ll see what happens after that,” he says.

What do the weeks leading up to Vasaloppet look like for you?

“After the competitions in Orsa, I will stay there for two weeks with Runar Skaug Mathisen and train. Hopefully, two good training weeks to find the Vasaloppet form,” Alvar Myhlback concludes.

Next are Grönklitt Classic on Saturday, February 17, and Grönklitt ITT on Sunday, February 18, 2024. The Pro Tour events mark the ninth and tenth Ski Classics Pro Tour stages of Season XV.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XV (2023/2024)

• Event 1: December 9, 2023 – Bad Gastein PTT, Austria, 13km
• Event 2: December 10, 2023 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: December 16, 2023 – La Venosta Criterium, Italy, 35km 
• Event 4: December 17, 2023 – La Venosta ITT, Italy, 10km
• Event 5: January 13, 2024 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, Italy, 62km
• Event 6: January 20, 2024 – Engadin La Diagonela, Switzerland, 55km
• Event 7: January 28, 2024 – Marcialonga, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 11, 2024 – Jizerská50, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 17, 2024 – Grönklitt Classic, Sweden, 60km
• Event 10: February 18, 2024 – Grönklitt ITT, Sweden, 13km
• Event 11: March 3, 2024 – Vasaloppet, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 16, 2024 – Birkebeinerrennet, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 6, 2024 – Reistadløpet, Norway, 50km
• Event 14: April 7, 2024 – Summit 2 Senja, Norway, 60km
• Event 15: April 13, 2024 – Ski Classics Grand Finale – Janteloppet, Norway, 100km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour can be found at skiclassics.com