Petter Northug Jr., 40, secured Norwegian Championships gold in the team sprint at Lygna together with his younger brother Even. But it did not happen without drama.

Northug pushed Kjelsås skier Edvard Sandvik out of the track shortly after the start, but the jury cleared him, and Strindheim kept the gold.

The incident was highly controversial, as Sandvik attempted to move into Northug’s lane. But moving a ski star with 14 World Championship gold medals is no easy task. Northug clearly pushed Sandvik off the track, and the Oslo skier fell.

During the TV 2 broadcast, Northug was asked whether he feared any reaction after the episode.

“In that case, they would have to disqualify the one who goes where there is no space,” he replied.

“I think it’s unsportsmanlike of Edvard to go where there is no room. But when he continues where there is no space, situations like that happen,” Northug said on TV 2. He used his arm actively, making it clear that he pushed Sandvik out of the track.

He did not consider it unsportsmanlike behavior and believes he handled the situation in the best possible way.

“Yes, it is when there’s no space. You have to learn where to go. You should know that if you’re going to race a team sprint at the Norwegian Championships,” he said.

Kjelsås finished last, and although they fought their way back through the field, they never returned to the medal fight.

Instead, three teams broke away on the second-to-last leg. Jonas Vika pushed hard for MjøsSki and was joined by Petter Northug for Strindheim and Simen Myhre for Heming.

That set up a showdown on the final leg. Even Northug attacked on the last climb before the finish and gained the decisive gap to secure the gold. MjøsSki, with Mats Opsal, sprinted to silver just ahead of Heming and Harald Astrup Arnesen.

Skistad decided it in the sprint

The women’s team sprint was also exciting. In the end, it came down to a duel between Konnerud and Asker.

Kristine Stavaas Skistad positioned herself perfectly and entered the finishing stretch first. From there, she had no trouble beating Asker’s rising star Helene Ekreim Haugen.

That also secured gold for Julie Bjervig Drivesnes for Konnerud, while Hedda Østberg Amundsen was Haugen’s teammate for Asker.

According to Langrenn.com, Byåsen won the prologue and was a slight favorite. However, Hanne Wilberg Rofstad and Julie Myhre lost contact with the leading teams midway through the final and settled for bronze.

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