The super talent was raging after Friday’s sprint, never getting the chance to fight for the win in the final at the Swedish season opener.

Alvar Myhlback was in top form, delivered a powerful qualification, but never got the chance to battle for victory in the final. In the semifinal, he was disqualified.

First, the Swedish 19-year-old – who is now entirely focusing on long-distance skiing – finished fourth in the qualification round. Then he advanced easily from the quarterfinal but was disqualified in the semifinal for a false start. The offence resulted in a yellow card, which was Myhlback’s second yellow card this season.

Myhlback was both astonished and clearly disappointed after the unexpected exit.

“So, what do you think? Tough way to end the day. Damn crap. And so damn strange, you just get fed up,” he said live to SVT Sport.

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How did it feel to be disqualified?

“I didn’t even get to experience anything; I was just sent away. I’ve gotten two yellow cards, so I probably deserve to be disqualified. But of course it’s still bitter. I felt very good, and I find it hard to see that anyone would have beaten me today,” Myhlback says.

“It’s absolutely insane”

The explanation from the race management and the jury is that Myhlback carried a yellow card from the rollerski race Alliansloppet in August, where he was penalized for racing without sunglasses. Two yellow cards in the same season = disqualification. The rule is clear, but experts are still outraged.

“It’s absolutely insane that they let it carry into the season. It’s a rule that exists and must be followed, but this is just nonsense,” says SVT cross-country expert Anders Blomquist.

Myhlback is not the only star who received a yellow card in Friday’s sprint.

Kristine Stavås Skistad received a written warning – a yellow card – for a maneuver in the quarterfinal at Beitostølen. Afterwards, she joked about intentionally getting another yellow card in Saturday’s 10km race so she would be disqualified. That would allow her to start the World Cup opener next weekend with a clean slate.

Feels sabotaged by the Ski Association

The junior sensation who won the Vasaloppet last winter at only 18 decided this spring to go all-in on long-distance skiing. Still, he is starting in all races at the Swedish season opener in Gällivare this weekend.

But the sprint incident in Gällivare is just the latest in a series of Myhlback’s negative experiences with the traditional cross-country system.

Last winter, the super talent was left off the team for the Junior World Championships, despite having won two gold medals at the championship the year before.

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