Halfvarsson was second before the final stage, around a minute behind Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. The Swede had twelve seconds to his credit on Pål Golberg and a further 13 seconds down to fourth place Federico Pellegrino.
Thus, the 33-year-old, who came third in the Tour de Ski in 2015, had a good starting position.
But the almost 500-metre-long slalom slope has crushed skiers’ dreams before – and so did Halfvarsson’s for a new podium in the Tour de Ski. The 33-year-old was completely speechless on the hill and had to watch rider after rider pass.
— It is brutal, states Halfvarsson in Viaplay.
“Then it creeps up”
A pumped-up Halfvarsson crossed the finish line in 22nd place on the stage.
— It feels quite okay until I get to the slope. Then it starts creeping up and then I have nothing to say about, says Halfvarsson.
Instead, it was triple Norwegian in total. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who before the race had won all six stages, was not the first to cross the finish line, but he took home the Tour de Ski for the third time in his career.
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, right, won the Tour de Ski.
Simen Hegstad Krüger, who won the stage, was second overall, 59 seconds behind Klæbo. Hans Christer Holund completed the all-Norwegian podium.
“Sin”
Halfvarsson ended up sixth in the summary, 48 seconds off the podium.
— It has been a good tour overall. Slow at the beginning and even slower at the end. But overall it’s been good, it’s a shame that it has to be such an end to the tour, says Halfvarsson.
William Poromaa was the best Swede for the day with his twelfth place and finished in 24th place in the summary with Eric Rosjö right behind him.
Johan Häggström was 43rd and Oskar Svensson 45th.