There was a lot of excitement about Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who has not done a single ski race in three weeks.
The 29-year-old has had an altitude stay in the Italian Lavazé.
– I responded poorly the last time I did it, but at the same time it’s about getting as many high days as possible before the Olympics, Klæbo told NRK before the race.
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won, in familiar style, the competitors in the prologue.
The sprint final will be the last competition before the Olympics break loose in just under two weeks.
Klæbø won by nine-tenths ahead of teammate Erik Valnes.
Even Northug, Erik Valnes, Oskar Opstad Vike, Mats Opsal, Haavard Moseby and Ansgar Evensen are also through to the sprint final which starts at 1pm.
The only Norwegian who did not advance to the sprint final was Amund Korseth.