Petter Northug's Plan to Compete for the World Championships: 'The Feeling is Very Good'

Petter Northug's Plan to Compete for the World Championships

Petter Northug is aiming to qualify for the World Championships, seven years after his last World Cup race. He has shared his plan to achieve this goal. His first competition against elite athletes will be the Norwegian premiere in Beitostölen in three weeks, where he expresses that he feels very positive about his chances.

Last year, Northug achieved a remarkable second place in the 20-kilometer classic at the Norwegian Cup. Following this, the Norwegian national team coach Eirik Myhr Nossum noted that Northug might have a chance to compete at the World Championships in Trondheim 2025. Currently, Northug is training at a high-altitude camp in Italy.

Upcoming Competitions

For the Norwegian newspaper VG, Northug has detailed his competition schedule for the season, which consists of three events: - The Norwegian Cross-Country Premier in Beitostölen from November 22-24. - The Scandinavian Cup in Lillehammer from December 13-15. - The Norwegian Championships in Hamar from January 15-19.

Northug acknowledges that the Beitostölen competition is his first against top Norwegian skiers in a long time, and he doesn't hold high expectations for it.

"I do not prioritize this competition. Unfortunately, we must expect that the prologue in the sprint may not go my way," he states. Instead, he hopes to peak in performance for the Norwegian Championships, with aspirations of being selected for a sprint relay team for the World Championships alongside Johannes Hösflot Kläbo.

Despite his ambitious goals, Northug estimates his chances of securing a spot at the World Championships to be just two percent, and he plans to shift his training focus to long-distance races after the championships, with the Vasaloppet likely being the major target for the season.

Related Articles: - Northug Opens Up About His Chances for the World Championships