“No greater favorite than any other”

It’s that time again on Sunday. The Vasalop race starts at 8 a.m. in the village of Berga and around four hours later both the men’s and women’s winners reach the finish line.

Last year there were two home skaters who stood at the top of the podium. Alvar Myhlback from Bjursås won the men’s class. In the women’s category, debutante Stina Nilsson from Malung was superior.

But even though she finished more than five minutes ahead of the runner-up in Mora, she doesn’t want to see herself as the favorite this year.

– I actually don’t feel that much favoritism. Last year was really like a fairy tale. Everything went according to my expectations and I really gave everything a 10 out of 10. That’s why I don’t see myself as a bigger favorite than anyone else. “So much still has to happen for me to have another day like this,” she says.

The victory on the Vasalopps debut was Nilsson’s first victory at the highest level of classic skiing, the Pro Tour. She has since won three more such races. The last victory came on January 17th in the Swiss Engadine.

– There were both ups and downs, but last year I didn’t have as good results as I have now. Overall it’s better than last year. “The peaks were good, but the valleys were hard,” says Nilsson, who is fifth in the overall classic ski rankings.

Norwegian Emilie Fleten, who is second overall, says she is clear about who she sees as Vasaloppet’s big favorite this year.

– For me it is definitely Stina Nilsson. She won last year. It was the first time she drove the Vasaloppet. The race suits her very well and I think she was in better shape than she showed in January. “So it’s Stina and I’ll put myself there too,” says Fleten.

Another figure skater Fleten sees as a winner – although not the biggest – is Astrid Øyre Slind, who recently represented Norway at the Olympics.

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Øyre Slind managed a gold medal in the women’s relay, but she had problems in the last five miles and dropped out of the race.

– As soon as she finished the Olympics, I thought that she was now saving energy for the Vasaloppet. But I’m looking forward to it. I think it gives the Vasaloppet even more value. She is welcome, says Stina Nilsson.

Only Astrid Øyre Slind is the woman who drove the Vasalop race fastest of all time. In 2022 she won with the record time of 3 hours, 50 minutes and 6 seconds.

Stina Nilsson’s time from last year was barely four minutes slower and before this year’s race there were rumors that she appeared to be quickly ahead. However, at the time of writing, the weather forecast is for snow during Sunday’s race.

In any case, Stina Nilsson isn’t particularly worried about her chances of taking over the record time. She thinks back to the end of last year’s race.

– I really didn’t think about this record time and I didn’t really care. That’s why I don’t care about a record time, she says.

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Guide for Vasaloppet 2026 – changed course and rope guide