It was a goal for Team Ramudden to speed up the pace right from the start in the men’s competition at Klarälvsloppet. A group of eight skiers got a gap after just a few kilometers:

“I was quite far ahead in the pack, but there was a gap to the breakaway group, and I saw that Petter and Stian (Stakston and Hoelgaard, teammates at Team Aker Daehlie) were in that group, and then I didn’t want to close the gap,” says Max Novak.

When did you realize you weren’t going to catch the break?

“It was early. I would say after maybe ten kilometers because I didn’t understand how it would work for us to catch up. At least I decided not to do anything. I tried once when the Ramudden guys stopped to pee, that was the only time because I didn’t want to drag Amund (Riege, in Team Ramudden) up. But then it became a wait-and-see again, and then I decided to focus on making a good sprint,” says Novak, the first of the skiers in the big group to finish.

“It was great to get a good sprint, and when I realized that both Petter and Stian were on the podium and that Petter also won, it was absolutely worth it,” says Novak, who with the finish has ended the competition season on rollerskis.

What stands out the most are the long-distance victories at Blink Classics and the long-distance race during Toppidrettsveka, as well as the win in the 15-kilometer race during Alliansloppet weekend.

“I haven’t felt as good as last year, but the results have “taken in” despite that. And that is what I am most satisfied with; that I have made good results without feeling the same way as last year. This race is a prime example; despite feeling quite tough, I manage to mobilize and win the bunch sprint. I feel very good for the winter, and I feel that I am at a good level, even if there is still some work to be done,” says Novak, who is now going home to Östersund, Sweden.

In two weeks, Max Novak will head to Mallorca for a training camp and continue to prepare before the Ski Classics Season XIV, which starts on December 10 in Bad Gastein, Austria.