On Saturday, Peter Northug finished 42nd in the first real long-distance race of the year at the Ski Classics, more than eight minutes behind the winner of the 62km Classic 3 Zenin Ski Marathon in northern Italy. On Sunday, Northug finished third overall and won the 35-45 age group at the Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge at the same location.
SEE ALSO: No long-term chance for Peter Northug on Saturday
I got revenge for the smearing
The former ski king, who returned to elite level ahead of last year's season, was clearly disappointed by Saturday's ski classics race, and suggested a grease boom was part of the explanation.
The next day, the 38-year-old responded: On Sunday, Northug finished third overall and won the 35-45 age group at the Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge.
The three-mile freestyle downhill race runs from Niederdorf at just over 1,100 meters above sea level to Prato Piazza at 2,007 meters above sea level.
The case continues below
Northug finished the race in a time of 1.36:02, which was, among other things, more than two minutes faster than world snowboarding champion Mathieu Tannell, who finished seventh.
Top 3 Men, Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge
1. Paolo Vantone, Futura White Fox Team/Italy, 1:35.11.4
2. Daniel Debertin, Germany, 1:35:15.5
3. Peter Northug, Team Gantelobet/Norway, 1:36:02.7
In the women's category, it was Justyna Kowalczyk who emerged with a clear victory. Former world champion B About six minutes of margin.
The case continues below
Next weekend, the ski classics continue in Engadine La Diagonella in Switzerland. The 55km race in Switzerland is also the last long race before the Marsialunga Classic on January 28, the first of the four “Grand Classics”, monuments to the skiing classics.
See also: Peter Northug in the Ski Classics season: New Swedish roper dueling and fierce goals
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