Petter Northug won absolutely everything that langrennsøper – except Tour de Ski.
In winter he tries for the tenth time when the Tour starts with a sprint in the Swiss Lenzerheide.
Probably will Northug fight in the lead as he almost always has done – until the closing klatretappen up slalom slope Alpe di Cermis in Val di Fiemme 10 January. There goes the rule wrong. Steve can not keep the pace until the lighter climb up the hill experts.
Heavy
He does not think it will be different this year.
– I have lost many victories in the ground, he said in an interview with German DPA.
– My problem is my weight. I is among the heaviest and too large and heavy for this ground. As I see it, that only particularly lightweight athletes can achieve good times there. But I will never give up, says Northug – that simply do not want to remove the spectacular Tour finale, although it would increase his own chances of winning.
– Definitely not! Alpe Cermis is the epitome of the Tour de Ski. It is a fascinating stage, which differs from everything else. It would be completely wrong to take it out of the program, even if it simply does not fit for me.
The German news agency asked Northug if it’s annoying that he has never managed to win Tour’en.
– I’ve delivered several strong Tour de Ski, and been in the lead until the last day. But then there’s this “Monster Jump” when, where I have not been able to defend the lead min. I will still try, tooth and nail, for once to make it.
Two stage wins
– What’s ambitions this time?
– A place on the podium and at least two stage victories, Peter answers.
It is entirely consistent with what he said earlier in the winter. Then he thought it would be just silly to proclaim himself the Tour favorite.
His personal trainer Stig Rune Kveen however, has not shelved aggregate-liked. It has hardly Petter himself either, although he outwardly downplays own opportunities.
At a victory in Tour’en would be extremely welcome, and that he will do what he can to finally succeed, no matter beyond doubt. Petter has a sense of this manhood sample where runners will through eight races in ten days.
– In Tour de Ski is the most complete cross-country skier who wins. Here you have to be strong in everything to succeed. You must master the sprint and distance, classic and freestyle. In addition, you do everything right between competitions, says Petter Northug to DPA.
Best Tour memory
The German news agency also asked Northug what is his best memory of the nine starts (all) He has done the tour de Ski.
– Difficult question. But when I think back, I remember especially 20-kilometer on the penultimate day in Val di Fiemme in 2011. I won the race and took also all bonus seconds in the embedded sprints along the way. It was a terrific day.
– And the western memories?
– Alpe Cermis! I’ve lost the overall victory there so many times. It is virkeli a monster for me that mountain.
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