- Cross without Northug is not interesting – VG

Knyken (VG) Petter Northug broke her Russian rival Ilia Tsjernousov the final sprint. Northug comeback at the top think Russian rescues cross-country skiing.

Northug and the whole team around him were openly relieved after he had won the second day in a row under Toppidrettsveka and this time in a duel with one of his toughest rivals.

Russian Ilia Tsjernousov had advanced from Northug struggled to get up, but one of the last slopes towards the goal he managed to advance from the group of runners who hunted Russian.

– I thought people were energetic

Northug chased by his Russian rival and picked him up. And towards the goal easier terrain was Tsjernousov, which has both bronze from the World Championships in Holmenkollen in 2011 and from the winter femmil during the Olympics in Sochi, shot in the final sprint. It looked raw, but Northug himself said this about the final round.

– It is not raw, but I got the position I would have. I thought people would be refreshed on the last lap. When I lay and waited and thought it would be a real jerk. When it did not come so it was just going up to Ilia and go with him, said Northug who smiled and shushed shouts from the audience before he was up on the podium with his Russian rival.

Trained the legendary climbing

hard settlement is not the first between them in the summer. In July drove the two apart hard on altitude training in Italy. Up the famous Stelvio Pass, notorious in the Giro d’Italia, they went a solid session on roller skis.

– One of the best sessions I had this summer was with Ilia when we trained in height. It is very good we claimed us as well here as we see that when we train together, we see that there is a high level of what we do, say Northug VG.

The day of July, the 6×10 minutes up the hairpin bends in what is referred to as controlled hardøkt. However, it is described as a very strong session for the two rivals.

The Russian who saw Northug disappear in front of him on the run during tremila World Championships in Holmenkollen three years ago, said Northug is so important for cross-country skiing saith he that Northug was back at the top again.

– I hope Northug will be back. Cross country without Northug is not interesting. I want him to have a good season, says Tsjernousov VG where he stands with his trainer Norwegian Vegard Bitnes.

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MONSTERØKT TOGETHER: It Coach Petter Northug and Russian Ilia Tsjernousov along the the legendary climb up the Stelvio Pass in Italy in July.

If exercising more in height

The Russian says he follows with interest the around the Norwegian known Norwegian skier on the news and TV, especially this year. And now the two train together during the next hill collection, which Northug going on from the end of next week.

– We have had a dialogue before this season here for us to train a little bit together on the next hill collection, says Northug.

In damm class was Marit Bjoergen best after Johaug kept up to skibyttet and freestyle section began. When distanced Bjoergen her friend towards the goal and won comfortably over the last 7.5 kg meters to the finish.