Originally, Petter Northug was supposed to start in the Finnish season opener in Muonio last weekend. Now, he will also miss the Norwegian season opener in Beitostølen.

Petter Northug was registered for all races in the Finnish season opener in Muonio last weekend. However, he did not show up to start in any of them.

The reason is a shoulder strain that the 37-year-old incurred in the last intense training period leading up to the season openers. Now, he realizes that he will also miss the season opener in Beitostølen. Northug is not taking any chances.

“We are skipping Beitostølen and preparing for Ski Classics,” says the Team Janteloppet Pro Team Director Pål Trøan Aune.

He also emphasizes that long-distance races are the focus for Northug, and the purpose of the stay in Muonio is to prepare as well as possible for that.

“We are focusing on Ski Classics. Holding back a bit now is about being ahead and not risking anything by going hard in a local ski race at the beginning of the season,” says Aune to Langrenn.com.

Read more: The Training that Brought Northug Back to the Top

Many absences

Petter Northug is one of many athletes who are forced to skip the season opener in Beitostølen.

Yesterday, it became clear that neither Ingvild Flugstad Østberg nor Helene Marie Fossesholm will participate in the opening weekend. They also did not participate in the national team’s last altitude training in Livigno in the October/November transition.

Flugstad Østberg has been denied a start because she does not meet the requirements of the health certificate. Fossesholm has had a challenging preseason and has put her career on hold indefinitely.

Last week, Julie Myhre announced that she will miss the season opener due to injuries.

Furthermore, Tiril Udnes Weng has contracted Covid. Three members of the men’s national team also got Covid in Finland before the weekend and had to return home from Muonio on Friday.

Read more: Covid hits Norwegian National Team in Finland