Defeated Northug by over four and a half minutes – then Calle Halfvarsson fell to the ground with a huge grin.

Calle Halfvarsson delivers a crushing result over Petter Northug in the Lysebotn Opp. After the achievement, the Swedish veteran lay flat on the asphalt in pouring rain. 

“It hurts ‘like hell’ in my body. It’s so painful that I don’t know what to do with myself. But it’s wonderful to be at the finish,” says the Swedish veteran to Langrenn.com. 

Halfvarsson finished in 28th place, more than four and a half minutes ahead of Petter Northug, despite the 37-year-old breaking his pole shortly after the start.

“That’s not ideal on this course,” comments Halfvarsson. 

How important is it for you to compete here – you keep coming back year after year? 

“I have to show up so Petter has a companion here.”

Also Read: Hedegart wins Lysebotn Opp freestyle 2026

Enlisted Norwegian success coach

For Halfvarsson, who has battled against Northug since debuting in the World Cup in 2009, the big goal for the season is a medal at the World Championships on home soil in Falun. 

To fulfill this dream, he signed with the Norwegian private team Team Swenor-Splitkon and coach Vetle Leander Johansen. He has completely revamped his training regimen, and the Swede is brimming with motivation.

“It’s working really well, but it’s a completely new thing. It’s totally different from what I’ve done before, so I hope it will give me a boost,” says Halfvarsson about the transition to the Norwegian team.

In Team Swenor-Splitkon, Halfvarsson is one of two Swedish veterans, alongside Oskar Svensson. The national team dropout has set personal bests in all tests since joining the team in June, and Halfvarsson believes he will see similar development.  

“I really believe in it; we’ll see. You can’t boast until winter comes. That’s when it counts,” he says. 

There, Calle Halfvarsson may meet the former ski king again. Petter Northug has not entirely given up on the dream of starting in Falun in February. 

Read More: Discussing the new setup: “Twice as many hard sessions”

Also Read – All you need to know ahead of the Blink Festival 2026

COMPETITION SCHEDULE BLINK 2026

Wednesday, August 5: Lysebotn Opp, Lysebotn

• 11:45 CEST: 7.5km freestyle, women
• 13:30 CEST: 7.5km classic (double poling), women and men
• 15:00 CEST: 7.5km freestyle, men

Thursday, August 6: Blink Classics, Ålgård

• 18:45CEST: Start, 50km classic mass start, women and men

Friday, August 7: Sandnes

• 15:30 CEST: Cross-country skiing prologue, women and men
• 15:55 CEST: Biathlon, shooting duel, women and men
• 17:10 CEST: Biathlon supersprint qualifiers, women and men
• 18:25 CEST: Cross-country skiing mass start 10km freestyle, women
• 18:55 CEST: Cross-country skiing mass start 15km freestyle, men
• 19:35 CEST: Biathlon supersprint finals, women and men

Saturday, August 8: Sandnes

• 15:30 CEST: Cross-country skiing sprint freestyle prologue, women and men
• 16:05 CEST: Biathlon mass start quarter-finals, women and men
• 17:44 CEST: Sprint freestyle quarter-finals and semi-finals, women and men
• 19:22 CEST: Biathlon mass start semi-finals, women and men
• 20:10 CEST: Sprint freestyle finals, women and men
• 20:25 CEST: Biathlon mass start finals, women and men

Are you interested in training for long-distance, traditional cross-country skiing and biathlon? Click HERE and read more about it.