National Team Manager's answer: « Has believed in Alvar all the time »

Myhlback became on Sunday's The youngest winner of the Vasaloppet. After the success, SVT's expert commentator took the opportunity to send a pass to the Swedish national team leadership:

« This guy thought the national team management would not ride the junior World Cup, they do not understand what skiing is about, » Blomquist said in the broadcast, writes Aftonbladet.

The criticism is directed at A-national team manager Anders Byström and Linda Danvind Malm, coach for the Swedish junior national team, who chose not to take myhlback to JVM earlier this year because he did not line up in any of the competition competitions.

But Byström stands Ask to Blomquist's statement, when he responds to the criticism on site at the World Cup arena Granåsen in Trondheim just before the women's skiathlon during the ongoing world championship.

– Sports we have believed in Alvar all the time. We have even had him at A-national camps last fall and it has been great fun to have him, so we probably have the skills to see it, says Byström.

He now hopes that Myhlback will not lock in the long-running cup, so that Byström's national team can also benefit from the 18-year-old's talent. It is not impossible that he may be relevant already to the Olympics in Milan and Cortina next year, says the national team manager.

– Now it was not possible to be here in Trondheim, but if he decides to train specifically against the Olympics then there are all chances of it.

And then comes a home World Cup in Falun 2027?

– Exactly. At his home ground, he can go shuttle from Bjursås to Lugnet (World Cup area) so it would be fantastic. We need these riders who dare to train a lot and he has really shown that he does. It should be perfectly reasonable that he is really in the top 2027.

Anders Byström has, on the other hand No major hopes of being able to attract Stina Nilsson to the national team. Nilsson also had a successful Sunday when she took home the Vasaloppet in her debut.

– Incredibly fun that she wins. But she has said clear that she does not want to be here and then it is not relevant. But she might be craving again. It is always attractive with one who has won the Olympic and World Cup gold.