Even Northug was the only Norwegian in the final field who made it there as a lucky loser.
But once there he showed strength and drove in as second, 1.66 seconds behind the winner Johannes Hösflot Kläbo.
- There was nothing to do for Johannes today, but the fact that I managed to take a podium makes me so damn happy.
Such an enormous amount of work is put in by me and people around me, then it's damn fun to succeed, says Even Northug after the sprint.
One of the people in the 27-year-old's entourage is older brother Petter Northug, 36, who is happy about his little brother's place on the podium.
- It's his first podium, so I know it means a lot.
He has put in so much hard work to get here, at the same time he knows that classic sprint is part of the WC.
I am touched, says Petter Northug to NRK.
What does the podium mean for Petter Northug?
- That means everything.
This is more important to me than winning World Cup gold.
I think it's so funny that Even gets to do it and I wish him every success.
I look forward to following his journey, he says.
The podium in the men's sprint was all-Norwegian, as Pål Golberg grabbed third place.
Emma Ribom took home the women's sprint final, ahead of runner-up Johanna Hagström and third-placed Tiril Udnes Weng.