On Saturday, two veterans who refuse to give up will face off: Anders Aukland and Petter Northug are set for a prestige duel at the Trysilløpet.

When Trysilløpet is held for the first time on Saturday, August 16, two fierce competitors will be on the start line for the longest distance.

Both Anders Aukland and Petter Northug have big ambitions in the longest race, 10 kilometers. Both refuse to retire, and both hate to lose.

“The race goes on a flat, fast course, so this will be intense,” says the driving force behind the event, Svein Skarpmo, to Langrenn.com.

The last time the two veterans met in Trysil was at Trysil Sprint 2023. There, both Northug and Aukland were beaten, but Aukland came off worst.

Beaten by a teenager – Again

Saturday, August 16, will be the second time in less than a month that Petter Northug has a start number in Trysil. At the traditional show sprint, Northug was thrashed by a Swedish teenager for the second year in a row.

Also Read: Myhlback crushes the field at Trysil Sprint 2025

In the Trysilløpet on Saturday, it is the evergreen Anders Aukland who will challenge the former ski star.

In addition to the 10-kilometer race, there is also a 5-kilometer race with competition classes. The shorter course also has several fast runners registered, including Selma Engdahl, who recently won the silver medal in the 1500 meters at the Norwegian Championships.

Holund withdraws

Originally, former World Champion Hans Christer Holund was also entered. After unexpectedly retiring from the World Cup circuit and giving up his national team spot in April 2023, Holund has focused heavily on running, especially the 10 kilometers. He has made his mark strongly there, even against specialized runners.

Northug hired as “pacer”

Before the main distances, there will be children’s races of 300 meters and 600 meters, which will also have a celebrity participant.

“Petter will be the pacer in both distances and run with the kids before he runs himself, and here everyone who finishes gets a medal,” says Svein Skarpmo.

Behind the exciting major initiative, organized by Trysilløpet AS together with Trysil IL as the technical organizer, are Svein Skarpmo, Nils Erling Myhr, Øyvind Sandbakk, Matz Ivan Faldmo, Bjørnar Myhren, and the former top runner Øivind Dahl.

Registration for all races is open until the start, and there are already well over two hundred participants.

Opens with a humorous lecture

The star weekend in Trysil actually kicks off already on Friday evening. Then there will be a lecture with ski historian Thor Gotaas and Petter Northug at the cultural center in Trysil. And Skarpmo guarantees a good laugh.

“This is not a classic lecture, but a raw, funny, honest, and lively conversation filled with humor, insight, and surprises, based on the podcast Viljeskalle and the book about Northug with the same title.”

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