Petter Northug announced already in the summer that victory in the Vasaloppet is one of his major goals this season.
For the sake of the success in one of the most famous long distance competition, the Vasaloppet, Northug decided to skip all the World Cup competitions except Nove Mesto.
"There is no doubt that if I want to be prepared for the Vasaloppet I have to skip some World Cups," Northug said to NRK. "It was decided already in the summer together with the team coach Trond Nystad," Northug's spokesman Otto Ulseth added.
Thus the Norwegian ace will not show up in Rybinsk, Szklarska Poreba and Lahti. "We've known since last summer that motivation toward Vasaloppet is important for Petter. It is on the top of his wish list and we need a motivated Northug for the championships next years," Norway's Cross-Country boss Age Skinstad explained to NRK.
Last Sunday the multiple World Champion took part in the 70 km long Marcialonga where he claimed 10th place.
Includes contributions by www.nrk.no/sport
