Earlier this year, Northug announced that he will make a serious bet on the Ski Classics long-distance cup.
The 36-year-old, who runs for his own team, came to the start in Saturday's 15 kilometer team pace and finished in a time of 30.57.05.
- The conditions were a bit tough with the snow, but it was a good warm-up for tomorrow.
Now we're in business, he tells SVT.
Early into the race, pictures were shown of Northug taking a skate grab, something that is not allowed in Ski Classics.
But Anders Blomquist believes that the former Olympic champion will avoid being washed up.
- There is a jury that examines this and can give punishment, but there are spruce branches there.
It is water that penetrates there and you have surfaces where it is okay to change tracks to find good conditions, says SVT's expert and continues:
- And it seemed to be between the spruce branches he skated.
I don't think the jury will have any opinions.
See the situation in the player above.