The Tour de Ski did not turn out as Calle Halfvarsson had hoped.

After five kilometers of the mass start on January 8, the 31-year-old broke the tour.

- I just did not have the strength, it feels like I have an engine that does not run on all cylinders, he told SVT Sport.

On social media, he received some criticism.

But it's nothing he cares about.

- Not for five cents.

People can think what they want.

I have full respect for the fact that people sit at home and think things, but it is not something I attach any importance to.

It is often those who sit at home who do not know much, they have not had an elite investment or sports career themselves.

It's easy to sit at home and think things - if you do not know much, says Halfvarsson.

"You got annoyed"

He admits that he has become better at not addressing people's opinions on social media.

- Yes, I must have been anyway.

Before, when you were younger, you were treated more badly.

You got annoyed, you cared more.

But now I do not care about it for five öre, says Halfvarsson.

The 31-year-old has been training since the Tour de Ski and hopes to get a good form message in Falun this weekend.

Otherwise, he may be forced to change his approach ahead of the World Cup, which takes place between 23 February and 7 March.

- I'm a little tense and a little nervous about how my form is as it went pretty hard in the Tour de Ski, I had to cancel the tour.

It was not at all what I had hoped for.

I am excited to see if I have done the right thing in training so far, I have to get a good answer otherwise I have to do something, he says.

- I have made some changes, but if I do not get an answer, I may have to go deeper into the training.

Then I'll probably have to go back lilte.

I still think I have trained quite well after the tour.

Bet on five miles

For Halfvarsson, the result is not in focus - but the feeling.

- That I have the strength to push on.

The usual thing, to come back to old Calle.

That feeling of being able to push uphill without becoming exhausted and powerless, he says.

In the World Cup, five miles is the big goal.

- That's what I have the most time for as well, considering how everything has turned out.

It is well located, I will have extra time until then.