Petter Northug Jr. had to cede the top of the podium to Eldar Roenning at the opening event in the 2010 Tour de Troendelag Friday night.
However, Northug hardly seems concerned. “Why? Well, I don’t know. He’s beat me a few times this spring and it’s starting to seem normal. You know, he just got married and he’s climbed a few notches just on that,” Northug said after the race.
And Roenning admits to the online newspaper VG Nett that he enjoys the trophy. “It’s always fun to beat Northug in a sprint. I’ve done that once before this winter, when I beat him during Tour de Ski. He’s a good yard stick,” Roenning said.
Roenning sat out Saturday to charge his batteries for the St Olav’s Lopp next week. Northug on the other hand will race both the ski race at Kirkebyfjellet and the roller ski race in Meraaker.
Results:
Men’s Senior: 1) Eldar Rønning. Skogn. 2) Petter Northug, Strinndheim, 3) John Bjørgård, Strindheim, 4) Niklas Dyrhaug, Team Trondelag, 5) Kent Ove Clausen, Team Trondelag, 6) Daniel Myrmæl Weekend City, Team Trondelag, 7) Alexander Legkov, Russian, 8) Pietro Pills Cottrer, Italy, 9) Petter Skin City, Wind, 10), Magnus Moholt, cod.