Team Ramuddens Max Novak won the Swedish official season premiere and this might give him a spot in the Swedish national team for World Cup in Ruka next weekend.
"You can not walk away from this race with anything better than a victory," says Novak.
The distance was 15 km in classic style and Novak had the lead throughout the whole race. He lost some seconds in the end but won 7.4 seconds ahead of William Poromaa.
To win against the specialists at shorter distances. How fun is that?
"I can walk around and feel really good right now."
"Some people ask what does this say about Swedish men's cross country skiing. But I think it rather says more about us long distance skiers being fast in short distance races as well. People underestimate our level, says Novak, who intends to measure his power against the Swedish elite on Saturday's sprint as well.
Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, also did a strong race and finished in sixth place. Both Max and Emil double poled, unlike their competitors.
In the women's 10 km race, Lina Korsgren finished in sixth place, two minutes behind Ebba Andersson and Frida Karlsson. Jenny Larsson, Team Ramudden, and Linn Sömskar, Team Nordic Athlete, also did well and finished eleventh and thirteenth.
At the Norwegian season premiere in Beitostølen, Team Ragde Eiendom's Anikken Gjerde Alnæs showed her speed and finished in fifth place in todays sprint.
Results men 15km Bruksvallarna
Results women 10km Bruksvallarna
