The 101st edition of the legendary Vasaloppet, the oldest and most prestigious of international granfondo ski races, took place in Sweden along its traditional 90 km classic technique route between Sälen and Mora. The event, part of the Ski Classics circuit, lived up to expectations, delivering thrilling moments and strong performances. Among thousands of participants, Swedish athletes Alvar Myhlback and Stina Nilsson emerged victorious, showcasing their exceptional talent on home soil.
In the men’s competition, 18-year-old Alvar Myhlback cemented his status as a rising star by winning in a time of 3:28:45. Already a Junior World Champion, Myhlback secured his victory in a final sprint, edging out compatriots Emil Persson (the 2023 Vasaloppet winner) and Max Novak, completing an all-Swedish podium. Myhlback’s victory made history as he became the youngest-ever winner of the Vasaloppet. Despite not being selected for Sweden’s U20 World Championship team in Schilpario, where Sweden’s men’s team struggled, his performance sent a strong message. Myhlback’s ambition and talent suggest he may soon compete at even higher levels.
On the women’s side, Stina Nilsson claimed a dominant victory in 3:54:00. The former cross-country skiing and biathlon World Cup athlete, who shifted her focus to long-distance races this year, led the race from the start and finished more than five minutes ahead of her competitors. Her win marked her first Pro Tour Ski Classics triumph. Norwegian skiers Anikken Gjerde Alnæs and Silje Øyre Slind completed the podium after a tight final sprint.
Vasaloppet’s Winter Week 2025 starts on February 21 and finishes with the 101st Vasaloppet on Sunday, March 2. There are 14 different races, with the distances 10, 30, 45, and 90 km to choose from, so everyone can reach the finish line of their own challenge. ‘Vasaloppet 2025’ marks another 100th anniversary for Vasaloppet as the race was broadcast on the radio for the first time in 1925. Sven Jerring commented on the first live sports report in Swedish radio from the Vasaloppet finish line on March 8, 1925. (Swedish national radio ”Radiotjänst” had started its radio broadcasts on January 1 of the same year.)
Read more on Vasaloppet.se
