Calle Halfvarsson would not have wanted to ski as Sweden’s anchor. According to Reijo Jylhä, Haflvarsson helped Finland win the World Cup silver.
Calle Halfvarsson was another enabler of Finland’s men’s WC relay medal, Iltalehti expert Reijo Jylhä pointed out on Friday.
– I am certainly one factor in the fact that Finland got silver, Halfvarsson said after hearing about the assessment.
Finland’s anchor Niko Anttola reached the anchor section 30 seconds ahead of Sweden, France and Germany. Halfvarsson started to lead the chasing group.
– Calle was not able to ski hard, so he wanted to keep the speed suitable for himself during the pull. During Calle’s turn, Finland got 15–20 seconds of good time, Jylhä estimated.
Halfvarsson does not completely agree. According to him, Germany, France and Canada did not go after barren Finland either.
– No one wanted to keep a fast pace on the last leg. Finland had already secured its silver. I had a hard time. We had to fight for bronze, the skier said.
– On the other hand, Finland skied well on all sections. They secured the silver themselves, Halfvarsson continued.
Unpleasant place
Calle Halfvarsson would not have wanted to ski in the open. PASI LEISMA
The Swedish team was formed in the skiing order Johan Häggström, Jens Burman, William Poromaa and Halfvarsson.
Häggström liked the place, but Halfvarsson and Poromaa didn’t get the shares they wanted.
Halfvarsson would not have wanted to ski at all. The Swede has publicly commented throughout the season that freestyle skiing is not going as well as traditional skiing.
– I wanted to ski the first or second section with a traditional one. I didn’t feel confident on the free. I knew it was going to be difficult.
Coaching disagreed.
– There was not much discussion about the choices. The coaches chose the team and were of the opinion that I was the best fit for the last leg.
Poromaa, on the other hand, would have liked the responsibility of the anchor.
– I could have helped the team in another way. The last part would have been good for me, Poromaa said on Saturday.
At breakneck speed
Poromaa would have liked to be the anchor. PASI LEISMA
Halfvarsson still competes in Planica for Sunday’s royal distance, i.e. 50 kilometers. He has skied 50 kilometers in the World Championships last time in 2019, when he finished sixth.
The Swede’s gaze is fixed Iivo Niskasen.
– I expect that the race will have a fast pace from the beginning. Iivo will certainly increase the tempo.
– You can’t fall from the herd at the very beginning, but I don’t take stress. Gotta ski smart. You mustn’t go too hard, but you have to stay on the attack throughout the race.
In the World Cup, Halfvarsson has skied the royal distance to the finish line the last time no less than ten years ago, when the result was 21st place.
At the Beijing Olympics, the runner was 38th, but the race was shortened to 30 kilometers due to weather conditions.