27-year-old Emil Persson, with his 17 long-distance victories in total, is the all-time leader on the men's side.
He has completed six Vasalopps in the past with second place last year being the best finish.
Lessons from previous Vasalopp now weigh heavily when the sights are once again set on trying to become a winner also in the footsteps of fathers
- You cannot afford to miss anything.
You have to have top material, you have to have top body and the tactics have to be right.
Because it is an hour longer than all other races, says Persson.
And continues.
- That particular hour takes its toll if you missed something.
You can handle a two-hour race with perhaps slightly worse tactics because you are strong, but here you don't do that.
Photo: SVT
There has been a Norwegian winner in the men's class in the Vasaloppet ten years in a row.
The most recent Swedish winner was Jörgen Brink in 2012. But this winter's sovereign hopes to break the Norwegian dominance.
- It's about time now, I've said that in recent years... But it was close last year, so I think this year it's the Swede's turn, says Persson.
See a long report with Emil Persson ahead of the Vasaloppet here >>>