Petter Northug was eighth in the Norwegian championships at 10 kilometers, but that was enough to amaze the experts and the Norwegian national team members.
Skiing legend, lately mostly seen as a TV commentator Petter Northughas publicly threatened to aim for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
In Norway, it is not realistic, but Northug has talked about getting another passport. Sometimes the 39-year-old track hero has talked about Liechtenstein and most recently about Austria.
In addition to daring, you also have to give displays, and Northug provided them on Wednesday, when he skied his first proper race of the season. Northug finished eighth in the Norwegian championships with 10 kilometers of traditional skiing.
Henrik Donnestad won with a time of 26:00.00. Northug lost by 37.1 seconds, but beat four national team men: Simen Hegstad Krüger, By Erik Valnes, Iver Tildheim Andersen and Didrik Tönseth.
Northug has also dreamed of this winter’s World Championships, which will be held in Trondheim. He has given himself a one percent chance to fit into the Norwegian team.
The performance seen now in the Norwegian championships was astonishing.
NRK’s expert Martin Johnsrud Sundby “scratched his head” when Northug took the lead in the intervals at 8.4 kilometers.
– How should this be commented? I didn’t expect this, and I don’t think Petter did either. There’s something special about that boy’s head, Sundby wondered.
– The percentage is probably zero, but this guy knows how to create chaos and mayhem and does it every time, Sundby commented on the World Cup opportunities with Northug grinning next to him.
Northug addressed the message to Norway’s head coach By Eirik Myhr Nossum in the direction of. Northug thinks he should be given a chance at the World Cup.
– I’m chasing the World Cup winners, not the Norwegian championships.
Nossum was content to say that he would like to see Northug at the World Championships, but places are tight.
The only national team man to beat Northug was Paul Golberg. The national team athletes also turned their heads to Northug.
– It was insanely good, Tönseth praised Northug’s performance.
Still recovering from the Tour de Ski Johannes Hösflot Kläbo didn’t race on Wednesday, just like he didn’t compete in the World Cup weekend.
Otherwise, there is a question mark, in what condition and with what kind of training load did the national team members, who contribute to the World Cup and the World Championships, arrive at the Norwegian championships.
Northug, who only started his season due to injuries and illness, instead said that he needs more competitions. During the Norwegian championship race week, he plans to have his “old diesel cleaned”.