February 16, 2010 (Whistler, BC) – Was it fitness, nerves, the heavy wet snow, or the terrain that

shut the Norwegian men out of the medals in yesterday’s Olympic XC Men’s 15km Freestyle race? None of the above. The athletes had tested their race skis and were happy with the race wax and were ready to go.

But according to reports the waxing coaches decided they could make them better, and unbeknownst to the athletes, treated the skis further. The result: “It was like having glue under the skis,” said Northug’s coach, Vidar Løfshus. The waxing mishap was revealed in a press conference on Tuesday at the Games led by Norwegian Team Manager Age Skinstad.

Northug was furious at the 15km press conference. He didn’t say a word.  And he was not at the press meeting today. Wednesday he will race the classic sprint. “He is just more motivated for this, “said Løfshus.

Also sprinting will be Ola Vigen Hattestad, Øystein Pettersen and Johan Kjølstad. Sweden’s Emil Jönsson is the big favourite after his victories this year.  The weather forecast is for sunshine.

With files from langrenn.com.