Northug Coop stunt – Dagsavisen

Toblach (Dagsavisen): In the last minute wrote Northug under the agreement with the Norwegian Ski Association which meant that he during the season did not promote her employer, Coop. But yesterday it had itself so that just Coop was a sponsor at this stage of the Tour de Ski. Coop stood unfolded all star numbers runners wore. And naturally:

It knew Northug to exploit. The first thing he did after the race was to unfold the fingers and pull up the Coop brand.

– It felt completely natural. It’s Coop is my employer, he says after his victory here in Toblach yesterday.

Comfort Wagon

Before yesterday’s 25 km long skating leg said Petter Northug Dagsavisen that the goal was to hang on the train that came to visit. In the train set Evgeniy Belov, Calle Halfvardsson, Martin Johnsrud Sundby – and, thus, Petter Northug.

As usual put Petter Northug settling into comfort wagon and let the others go train to come.

But a few hundred meters before the finish in the last uphill stretch, relieved he butt and advanced until the driver’s seat. There he was until the train had passed the goal – two seconds before Calle Halfvardsson and 2.2 seconds ahead of Martin Johnsrud Sundby.

Do take seconds

Now leader Petter Northug Tour de Ski standings. But in tomorrow’s mass start in Val di Fiemme, he probably hijack as many bonus seconds as possible. Three times during 15 kilometer awarded the 15 bonus seconds for the best in those admitted sprints and so on down among the 15 best. In goal, it’s about 15 bonus seconds for the best, ten to the second and five third parties.

– Petter must have seconds to go into the last hill, says father, John, to Dagsavisen after yesterday Northug-demonstration.

– But it gets wet and heavy snow, Petter chance to win. He’s too heavy to it, he continues.

As expected

Petter Northug showed Coop when he went in goal. The first Martin Johnsrud Sundby did was to go and thank Evgeniy Belov for the job he had done during 25 km.

– Belov proved extremely skilled and made sure we could early send a signal to Dario Cologna came barking behind, but that was never a threat, says Martin Johnsrud Sundby before he praises the four who traveled the 25-kilometer together.

– It is not often one experiences to go in a way group work so well together. The aim was that Dario would not take seconds on us, he smiles.

Then it has to be that Northug sat in comfort wagon until he did not want more.