February 20, 2010 (Whistler, BC) – With Norway’s golden finish yesterday in the women’s event

to inspire him, and the confidence of being the reigning World Champ, Norway’s Petter Northug is the favourite going into the Olympic XC Men’s 30km Pursuit on Saturday. Northug won the bronze in the men’s individual sprint and is a good distance racer who likes mass starts.

With the race starting at 1:30pm Pacific time, the course will be soft and sugary, making for slow conditions, but given the waxing entourage Norway has assembled for the Games, this doesn’t seem to affect their glide. As one American said, “We keep our nuclear arsenal a secret; the Norwegians keep their wax a secret.”

Other favourites include the Czech Republic’s Lukas Bauer, who won a bronze at Whistler Olympic Park, in the men’s 15km freestyle – Bauer is also a strong classic skier. Dario Cologna of Switzerland, who took the gold in the men’s 15km freestyle has to be counted in as a top contender well. His ability to glide in soft conditions is amazing and he says he likes the “deep corners.” Cologna comes into the race having won World Cups in the 20km pursuit in Falun, Sweden and in the 15km pursuit in Oberhof, Germany last year.

Other top skiers in the hunt for the podium include Tobias Angerer of Germany who likes the pursuit was 12th in the 30km pursuit at Torino in 2006 and won Olympic silver in the 15km classic. Also hoping to strike it big will be the Italians including Giorgio Di Centa, Pietro Cottrer, along with Finnish star Matti Heikkenen.

Canada’s own Ivan Babikov, is in the first seed and ranked 15th. Coming off his stellar 8th in the men’s 15km, a new Canadian Olympic record, Babikov could be the darkhorse in this race with tough conditions as he can suffer when it counts. Looking for redemption is American Kris Freeman is the next seeded North American in 21st, followed by Canada’s Alex Harvey at 24th, Devon Kershaw at 31st and George Grey at 41st.

Seeding gives racers the preferable positions at the front of the pack for this mass start event. Team USA’s James Southam starts in 49th position and finishes off the North American roster for this exciting event.