Facts: Sweden’s squad to Ruka
Ladies, distance: Ebba Andersson, Maja Dahlqvist, Johanna Hagström, Moa Ilar, Frida Karlsson, Emma Ribom.
Women, sprint: Maja Dahlqvist, Anna Dyvik. Johanna Hagström, Ingrid Hallquist, Frida Karlsson, Emma Ribom.
Men, distance: Edvin Anger, Jens Burman, Calle Halfvarsson, Leo Johansson, William Poromaa, Eric Rosjö.
Men, sprint: Edvin Anger, Emil Danielsson, Calle Halfvarsson, Anton Persson, William Poromaa, Oskar Svensson.
The competition program:
Friday 25 November: sprint, classic style, ladies and gents.
Saturday 26 November: 10 kilometres, classic style, ladies and gents.
Sunday 27 November: 20 kilometer chase start, freestyle, ladies and gentlemen.
The reigning Olympic and World Cup gold medalist was forced to sit out last weekend’s Swedish premiere in Bruksvallarna due to a cold. That it would affect the World Cup premiere was already known, but now it turns out that the disease puts an end to more than that.
In consultation with the medical team and the national team leaders, Sundling has already decided to refuse next week’s World Cup competitions in Lillehammer, Norway.
“To the right direction”
“The positive thing is that it has gone in the right direction and that I feel better. I long to compete again but I will hurry slowly as the body is my tool to be able to perform. So then it is important that I listen to it too,” says Sundling in a press release.
She is now aiming to make a comeback in Betiostølen, Norway, 9–11 December.
Two other sprint specialists miss the World Cup premiere: Marcus Grate, who also had a cold, and Linn Svahn, who is not yet ready for a comeback after his shoulder injury.
Another name missing from the Swedish squad is Alvar Myhlback. However, it was expected that the Swedish shooting star would have to wait for his World Cup debut.
The potential is indisputable – this was shown not least by the third place in the sprint in the Swedish premiere – but the national team manager Anders Byström has been clear about taking things slow with the 16-year-old.
— I understand that there will be a lot of bullishness around him, but we have to give Alvar some rest and time as well. It must not be too much, said Byström in connection with this weekend’s competitions in Bruksvallarna.
World Cup debut
Despite this, the squad for the competitions in Finnish Ruka Friday-Sunday this week contains several unproven names. Åsar’s Edvin Anger (sprint and distance) makes his debut in the World Cup, while clubmate Ingrid Hallquist (sprint) and Högbo’s Emil Danielsson (sprint) make their first World Cup competitions outside of Sweden.
“Of those selected, it is extra gratifying to be able to give the chance to relatively new skaters such as Ingrid Hallquist, Emil Danielsson and Edvin Anger. All three have clearly made strides since last season,” says Anders Byström in a press release.
Sweden’s two fittest skaters before the start of the World Cup appear to be Ebba Andersson and Calle Halfvarsson, who took two victories each in Bruksvallarna. They are a given in the squad. There are also Frida Karlsson and Maja Dahlqvist, who have chosen to train outside the A national team ahead of the season.
“The premiere weekend in Bruksvallarna gave us interesting answers and it looks like several of our most established riders have succeeded well with the preparations,” says Byström.