The Swedish men were reluctant to say the least when the 15 km classic was decided in the Tour de Ski.
Calle Halfvarsson certainly became the best Swede but it was not a race that the 32-year-old will remember.
It was a 34th place, over two minutes behind the Finnish winner Iivo Niskanen.
- I get a little upset when it does not work.
It's tough, he tells SVT Sport.
The branch should be his strongest but the shape did not seem to be there.
- When the body does not respond, it does not work.
Today I go empty-handed.
Something is not right.
Hard to answer what it is.
The Olympic form shines with its absence
The Olympic Games will be inaugurated on February 4 and the missing results in the ski tracks create some questions.
You are looking for an Olympic venue, how does it feel right now?
- It feels a bit far away but I still have some time on the tour to turn this around.
I hope the next distances can go better.