Petter Northug, Team Janteloppet, is willing to sacrifice a lot for a victory in Vasaloppet this Sunday, including one of his 13 World Championships golds. But not just any World Championships gold.

For Petter Northug, Vasaloppet is the big goal for the season and the entire comeback at the elite level. 

Last year, his first season after the comeback, Northug was 48th at Vasaloppet, over ten minutes behind the winner Emil Persson. The Swedish Pro Team athlete and reigning champion does not give the 38-year-old exceptional odds to win this year either. 

“No, he will never get that wreath. He is passé, too old, Persson told SVT.

Read More: Unveiling the favorites for Vasaloppet’s 100th edition

See all the facts and details about Vasaloppet at the bottom of the article. 

But Northug learned a lot from that baptism of fire. Among other things, the course at Vasaloppet looks much flatter on TV than it is. And that the start is tricky: You must fight to hang on up the first hill and join the front group later in the race. He must use those experiences. 

This year, the ambition is victory. Northug has done everything to make it happen: Altitude camp, training, and preparations have been explicitly timed for Vasaloppet on Sunday. 

“Winning would be great. Vasaloppet is like the World Championships for us long-distance skiers,” says Northug.

Northug tells Expressen that he is willing to make a lot of sacrifices for victory in the 90km long prestigious race, which is being held this year for the 100th time. Also, one of the World Championships golds from his professional traditional cross-country skiing career. 

You have 13 World Championship gold medals. Would you be willing to trade one of them for a victory in Vasaloppet? 
(Northug thinks about it for half a second)
“Well, it had to be the relay gold from Val di Fiemme in 2013, then.”

Really?
“Yes, I skied against Calle (Halfvarsson) on the anchor leg. And I hardly had to make an effort. It was just a ‘walk in the park.’ So, I would gladly trade that medal away,” says Northug, laughing. 

Throughout his career at World Cup level, Northug was known for his often unique victory gestures and inventiveness just after finishing. 

So if you win on Sunday, you run naked through Mora. 
“I am ready for anything.”

The article continues below.

Vasaloppet – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 11

• Date: March 3, 2024
• Distance: 90km Classic Technique
• Place: Sälen-Mora, Sweden
• Start Time: Women & Men 8:00 CET
• Number of SC Climbs: 1
  • First Hill: 3km
• Number of SC Sprints: 2
  • Smågan: 11km
  • Evertsberg: 47km 
• Website: Vasaloppet 
• SC Play: Vasaloppet 

Vasaloppet program, start lists, live timing, and live streaming on SC Play can be found HERE and HERE

Vasaloppet Season XIV – Video Highlights

Where to Watch

Vasaloppet is just around the corner. Here is an overview of where you can watch the Ski Classics Pro Tour event.

• SVT – Sweden
• NRK – Norway
• Czech TV – Czech Republic
• TVP – Poland
• Warner Bros Discovery – Finland
• RTTR – Italy
• Servus TV – Austria, Germany, Switzerland
• beIN Sports – Australia, Canada, Turkey, USA
• SC PLAY – all countries (English commentary)

The Season XV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 15 events on 11 event weekends in 6 different countries. 

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XV (2023/2024)

• Event 1: December 9, 2023 – Bad Gastein PTT, Austria, 13km
• Event 2: December 10, 2023 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: December 16, 2023 – La Venosta Criterium, Italy, 37km 
• Event 4: December 17, 2023 – La Venosta ITT, Italy, 10km
• Event 5: January 13, 2024 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, Italy, 62km
• Event 6: January 20, 2024 – Engadin La Diagonela, Switzerland, 55km
• Event 7: January 28, 2024 – Marcialonga, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 11, 2024 – Jizerská50, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 17, 2024 – Grönklitt Classic, Sweden, 60km
• Event 10: February 18, 2024 – Grönklitt ITT, Sweden, 13km
• Event 11: March 3, 2024 – Vasaloppet, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 16, 2024 – Birkebeinerrennet, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 6, 2024 – Reistadløpet, Norway, 50km
• Event 14: April 7, 2024 – Summit 2 Senja, Norway, 60km
• Event 15: April 13, 2024 – Ski Classics Grand Finale – Janteloppet, Norway, 100km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour can be found at skiclassics.com