– It’s shockingly good. He was distanced strongly in the race yesterday. Here he beats top runners such as Henrik Dønnestad and Håvard Moseby, runners who we know can assert themselves high up in the World Cup, says NRK’s cross-country expert Torgeir Bjørn.
– With this race, he would have quickly become Swedish champion. Only William Poromaa, Calle Halfvarsson and Jens Burman have the capacity that Northug shows here, Bjørn believes.
Now the cross-country expert believes that Northug can be a real candidate to be in the Norwegian WC squad in Trondheim next year. From before, Therese Johaug has also not ruled out a comeback for next year’s WC.
– If we look one year ahead, it is clear that Petter Northug is starting to sign up for the battle to actually go to the WC in Trondheim. Because now he is well on his way to the old standard, says Bjørn.
EXPERT: Torgeir Bjørn.
Photo: Anders Boine Verstad / NRK
– There is such a wide range at the top in Norway, that you know that if you are on the podium, it is at a high international level. Then there is actually not a long way to go before he can sniff a WC place in Trondheim. What would have been better than both Johaug and Northug back in 2025, asks Bjørn.
National team coach Eirik Myhr Nossum confirms to VG that Northug is eligible to play for Norway going forward.
– Greatly impressed, clearly he is relevant for both the five-mile in the World Cup in Holmenkollen in March, but also the WC in Trondheim next year, he says to VG, and further emphasizes that he is serious.
Nossum elaborates to NRK:
– He bets on skiing, so I’m not surprised that he goes fast, but I didn’t believe in the podium, he writes, and continues about Northug’s WC chances:
– He must continue to go fast in traditional cross-country skiing to make it. And probably significantly faster than what he was doing now.
For VG, Northug also keeps the WC door open:
– There is a small possibility, of course. It is important to have dreams.
One person who seems to like Northug’s performance is Johannes Høsflot Klæbo:
– Now we’re talking. WC 2025 next, he writes on Instagram.
Northug: – Hell after two rounds
Petter Northug was satisfied after a 35th place on Saturday in the 10 kilometers in free technique on Saturday, in what was his first race in traditional cross-country skiing since November 2018.
On Sunday it was 20 kilometers in classic style. Northug made a big impression there. The 38-year-old led by 6.3 seconds to David Thorvik and 9.1 seconds to Henrik Dønnestad halfway through the race and looked to have a chance of victory.
Dønnestad has its strength in classical and has two podium places from the World Cup this season. He also finished seventh overall in the Tour de Ski, but fell ill afterwards.
In the second half, Northug couldn’t quite keep up the pace and he was passed by Thorvik, but he was also the only one who managed to beat 38-year-old Northug.
Thorvik eventually won 26 seconds ahead of Northug, with Eirik Mysen in third place, 29.6 seconds behind Thorvik.
– It was hell after two rounds (of four). I opened a little too hard. I felt I was doing well. (Håvard) Moseby helped me a little. He left me on the slopes and then I picked him up on the flat track. It made me able to chase. It is clear that it was tough, but I felt I was able to manage well, said Northug in an interview shown on VGTV.
See the sprint to Northug here, from the race that was broadcast on VG+ Sport.
The winner: – Totally impressive
– It is impressively strong from Petter, said Dønnestad about Northug’s performance.
The winner also brought out the superlatives in the direction of Northug.
– It was really impressive. That was some of the motivation in going here. I feel you can’t be beaten by an exerciser, said Thorvik with a smile.
Northug gave up traditional cross-country skiing in December 2018. In recent years, he has focused on cross-country skiing, where he has his own team, Team Janteloppet.
The 38-year-old is among the biggest profiles in cross-country skiing history and has, among other things, two Olympic golds, 13 World Cup golds and 38 World Cup victories.