"For us, this is a small victory": what they said after Russia won bronze in the relay at the KM biathlon stage in Italy

"We will continue to fight for the first place, we have a strong team"

The World Cup stage in Anterselva is developing more than successfully for Russian biathletes.

On Friday, Alexander Loginov brought the country the first personal race medal of the current season - and immediately a gold one.

And on Saturday, the men took to the podium in the relay and interrupted the unsuccessful streak from fourth places.

At the same time, the domestic team could have been higher than the third place, if it were not for Loginov's failed work at the "stand".

The winner of the individual went to the penalty loop, and after the end of the race he apologized to his partners.

“In fact, I felt that the move was not mine at all and that my legs were not mine.

Therefore, I did not cope with the shooting.

I'm sorry, I just tried to work as much as possible to help the team.

I hope they will forgive me for the penalty loop.

At this level, this is an impermissible mistake, but I still tried to pass the baton to Eduard as closely as possible, "Loginov said on Match TV.

Eduard Latypov also faced problems at the second firing range, who used three additional rounds.

But in the last meters of the distance, he did not leave any chances to the German Thomas Doll and, it seems, established himself in the role of the finisher of the national team.

“This is a small victory for us.

Then we will fight for the first place, we have a strong team.

At first I got nervous, because I don't always visit such a company, then I got ready.

After the "stand", he discarded his emotions and went into the fight.

I knew that Doll would "pull", he had a very strong distance speed.

Thomas made attempts to break away and twice tried to come forward, but fresh snow on a different trajectory.

Already went to the finish line, closed the "corridor".

The right turn is preemptive, then I realized that Doll had finished fighting, ”explained Latypov.

The fans cannot have any questions for Matvey Eliseev and Anton Babikov.

Both worked their stages perfectly, and Matvey passed the baton to Loginov first.

After the finish, the native of Zelenograd admitted that at the start he had to restrain himself.

"It's complicated.

After the second stage in Oberhof, the coaches deliberately slow me down in the first laps.

I felt a great advantage in skiing.

On the "stand" he hurried, wanted to run away as quickly as possible.

I saw that Johannes Dale missed, and wanted to bring more advantage, - said Eliseev.

And the world champion in the relay Babikov, who completed the first stage, admitted that on the eve of the race he did not feel in the best way and even thought about withdrawing.

“I slept badly at night, my back muscles ached.

Thanks to my wife and loved ones who supported me.

I understood that I needed to work out exactly, now this is the maximum speed for me.

The main thing was to shoot and give the maximum.

I managed to get myself together, a little fog appeared on the eve, analyzed my mistakes.

4th place in relay races?

This is not discussed in the team, everyone understands and tries to show that our position is higher than the fourth, ”the biathlete said.

The head coach of the national team Valery Polkhovsky was also pleased with the performance of the wards and winning the long-awaited medal.

And the specialist connected Loginov's failure at the shooting range with a loss of concentration.

“It happens, it's biathlon, that's why it is interesting.

It is clear that he will draw certain conclusions from this situation.

Three shots came out great, but after that, apparently, he lost control and concentration.

As a result, I made mistakes that led to the fact that I had to go to the penalty loop.

But this is a team struggle, so in any case, I congratulate the guys and the whole of Russia with a bronze medal.

Finally, the fourth places in the men's national team ended, and the guys climbed the podium, "- quotes the words of the TASS mentor.

The coach also admitted that Latypov has been deliberately being prepared for the role of a finisher since December.

“The process is underway, there can be no chance, everything must be prepared in advance.

Even from the interview that Edward is now giving, we understand that he is growing up, gaining experience as a finisher, "added Polkhovsky.

In turn, the coach of the national shooting team Maksim Maksimov explained Loginov's mistakes by excessively active work on the first lap.

According to him, Alexander strove to create as much groundwork as possible from the pursuers.

“Difficult relay race, I was very nervous, especially when Loginov entered the penalty loop.

I was also worried about Latypov.

Alexander wanted to create a reserve, from the first round he joined the struggle.

There are mountains here, a difficult shooting range, a little tremor of the legs prevented him.

There was no stability in the legs.

Latypov?

To be honest, Edward did not see the bed through the chimney because of the fog.

There was excitement on the counter, of course.

Visibility was very poor.

We are great.

Third place, but we fought.

I think we are ready to win, - said Maksimov on the air of Match TV.

🇫🇷FÊTE FRANÇAISE🇫🇷

Perfect day for @FedFranceSki - the men add to the joy by winning the relay after a tight battle between @EmilienJck and Johannes Thingnes Boe on the final loop!

🏁💪

Full recap ➡ https://t.co/ZevZFSNKGb

_________

📷Manzoni / IBU # biathlon # biathlonfamilypic.twitter.com / 2F1ge8tbgC

- IBU World Cup (@IBU_WC) January 23, 2021

"We will win two medals at the World Championships, one of which is gold." 

As for the experts, they were mostly satisfied with the results of the race, even though the Russians could well have climbed higher than third place.

So, commentator Dmitry Guberniev said that the result of the relay sets him up in a positive mood on the eve of the World Cup.

“I never doubted that Russia would come up fully armed to the World Cup.

We see a team that is growing before our eyes.

In every race we fight for a medal: this applies to both women and men.

Those people who did not believe in the coaching staff begin to change their shoes.

Both Shashilov and Kaminsky firmly know their business.

We do not expect mistakes from others, we fight on equal terms - this is the most important thing.

We will go further, tomorrow we will fight in the women's relay and men's mass start.

I am convinced that at the World Cup we will win two awards, one of which will be gold, "- quotes Guberniev" Championship ". 

And the former president of the SBR, Vladimir Drachev, praised the biathletes Babikov and Eliseev, who ran the first two stages, for the excellent work.

In his opinion, other athletes should follow their example.  

“The race was extreme.

The last two "racks" at Loginov and Latypov turned out to be on the verge.

If Sasha went to the circle, then Eduard brought us a bronze medal.

On the last lap, he confidently followed Doll and managed to finish.

Considering the penalty loop, we showed a decent result.

Of course, I would like to see our guys higher, and there were chances.

But we also haven't had bronze medals for a long time, ”Drachev noted. 

In turn, two-time Olympic champion Dmitry Vasiliev was disappointed with Loginov's mistakes.

He admitted that he had never expected so many mistakes from the leader of the national team at the decisive moment.

“But it’s already on the penalty loop… I didn’t expect it from Sasha Loginov.

But in general, something is already looming.

The main condition is not to take additional cartridges.

It is difficult to say whether we will see this particular relay four at the World Cup.

Much depends on the health of the athletes.

But this option seems to be optimal.

It is surprising why Kirill Streltsov was put on the first stage in Oberhof.

Of course, Babikov had to be staged from the very beginning.

This decision has justified itself today.

Anton just went through his stage superbly ", - said Vasiliev. 

Three-time world champion Ivan Tcherezov also praised Babikov and Eliseev.

According to him, they demonstrated "maturity and professionalism", which, coupled with excellent ski performance, helped them to show high results.  

“Matvey was losing on the first lap, at first I was even surprised by this, but then it became clear that he stood behind the guys and worked tactically competently.

The finish circle showed that this strategy was correct.

Anton and Matvey made us happy, ”Sport24 quotes Tcherezov.

Also, the three-time world champion praised Latypov's performance.

He noted that in his person the Russian national team received a real fighter.

“The question with the finisher at the World Championships, I think, has been removed - it will be Eduard.

The team is very balanced, and the first two stages showed how to work in the relay race: functionally, you can be a little weaker than your rivals, but clear work in the distance and at the lines leads to leadership.

For a long time we have not seen our team as a leader during the race, ”added Tcherezov.

And the former head coach of the national team Anatoly Khovantsev, on the contrary, urged not to associate high results at the WC stage with the upcoming World Cup.

“This is a good result ahead of the World Cup.

But the world is a separate start, where everything will depend on the orders of the coaches in preparation, on the last preparatory stage.

Latypov could not bring to the last shot, this is not good.

But the fact that he won over Doll at the finish is certainly a fine fellow, ”Khovantsev emphasized.