Photo: Bildbyrån
Petter Northug still has a dream of running the World Cup in Trondheim.
According to TV2 expert Petter Solng Skinstad, that dream is completely dead.
“It’s completely unrealistic,” he tells the Sports Bible.
Although it was seven years since he last competed in the World Cup, the former world star wants Petter Northug39, still represent Norway in the home World Cup. The chance that he will actually be selected in the national team is microscopically small, but the dream is still there.
Northug pauses his job for TV2
Recently, Norwegian TV2, the channel that Petter Northug acted as an expert for since he ended his sports career in 2018, announced that he will not be part of the group working with the World Cup in Trondheim. He has too much else for himself right now.
– Petter’s involvement in TV2 is important to us and we will continue to cooperate in the long term as a result of our investment in winter sports. But right now Petter has too many iron in the fire, which is not compatible with being a commentator and expert, says TV2’s sports editor Vegard Jansen Hagen in a press release.
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At the same time, he may show up as a studio guest one evening during the championship, but not on a regular basis.
– The TV2 dialogue has been good and we agree that it is right to press the Paus button for the expert role now with everything that is happening. But I still look forward to contributing to TV2’s World Cup broadcasts from Trondheim, not least in the evening program from Nye Hjorten Theater. Although we are now pausing the expert role itself, there are lots of exciting opportunities that I look forward to doing together with TV2 in the coming years, says Northug himself.
Expert’s words about Northug
Just because Petter Northug’s “investment in winter sports” is still alive, we should not hope too much that he can participate in and compete for Norway during the championship. Actually not at all.
– It’s completely unrealistic. It is good for attention and interest around the sport (that he is still competing). Then I think we can continue to speculate until it is time for the World Cup selection. Then I think there will be a long run for Northug. Vasaloppet will be Petter Northug’s main hope this season as well. No World Cup with Norway, says TV2 colleague Petter Solng Skinstad to the Sports Bible.
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If it is now that Petter Northug is allowed to shift focus and invest fully on Vasaloppet instead, he goes an exciting fight against 21 years younger Alvar Myhlback. The Swede came third last year (as a 17-year-old), while Northug came in 18th place.
– It’s a nice duel it (between Alvar and Petter Northug). Petter could be Alvar’s father. He is a really, really great talent, he says.
What do you think Petter Northug will not be in the ski World Cup in Trondheim? Do you miss such a big profile in the championship? Please write what you think in the comments field.
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