Northug beaten by old rival in the 'monster hill'

After suffering from back issues that caused him to miss the season opener, Northug participated in the Rampa con i Campioni event, a precursor to the Tour de Ski challenge, where he worked hard on the steep hill often referred to as the 'monster hill'. Despite his strong showing, finishing fourth, he was still unable to catch up with legendary rival Dario Cologna who triumphed by a significant margin. Northug expressed satisfaction with his performance as a promising sign as he aims to regain form for the upcoming World Championships this season.