June 18, 2010 – Tour de Trøndelag gives Petter Northug a rare chance to meet world stars at home. He invited several of the world’s best cross-country skiers to Meråker and Nord-Trøndelag for the event on June 25-26.

“I am very excited to welcome Pietro Piller Cottrer (ITA), Anders Södergren (SWE), Jaak Mae (EST) and the other top skiers “said Northug.

The world’s best skier went to the top in last year’s Tour de Norway. He has same ambitions to do the same this year.

The event, the Tour de Troendelag, consists of three races: a roller ski city criterium on June 25 in Trondheim, then a summer ski race on the Kirkebyfjellet mountain on the morning of June 26 and concludes with a roller ski pursuit race in the afternoon.

“I’ll do my first workout that Friday with the national team in Sandane, then the Stjoerdal race as my second. I don’t fear racing after a flight” says Northug. He is aware that it’s going to be tough to win with Cottrer who is aiminig at paying back the defeat from 50 km Holmenkollen. Well prepared Södergren represents danger for Northug too. Anders is reported to have been in a good shape. Eldar Rønning and Johan Kjølstad are among the Trøndelag home skiers. Team Trøndelag put up the best men, and several Team Manpower skiers announced their arrival.

Frode Estil is the one who does a good job in communication with other athletes. He has been in touch with Alexander Legkov (RUS) and Axel Teichmann (GER). “We believe that at least one of them will come. For a long time, we hoped to get Dario Cologna, who won the summer ski race on snow last year. Unfortunately it was not possible for the Swiss this time. Dario has confirmed that he is more than happy to return to Stjørdal Meråker” quoted Estil.

“Tour Trøndelag is one of the few events where younger skiers and the juniors will be able to compete with some of the best. We’ve heard that it is incredibly motivating for girls and boys from all over the country to compete in such a setting. ” says Frode Estil.

Invitational Tour de Trondelag 2010 info here.

Find more information here.