"We continue to fight with Klebo with respect to each other": what did they say after the victories of Bolshunova and Stupak at the KM stage

"When I was leaving for the start, there were thoughts not to break the social distance"

The first competitive day of the final stage of the World Cup in cross-country skiing in the Engadine was more than successful for the Russian athletes.

They managed to get a golden double in the mass start.

First, Alexander Bolshunov celebrated the victory, and then Yulia Stupak.

She turned out to be especially beautiful for the two-time winner of the CM, who, just a week after the end of the world championship, easily left all rivals and even Johannes Klebo was ahead by almost 20 seconds.

After the finish, the native of the Bryansk region admitted that he felt great.

“It was necessary to dot the i's back at the World Championships, but… Here is a very cool place and a lot of prepared tracks.

Plus, it is very important that the Engadine track is at the same altitude as the Olympic track in Beijing - 1800 meters.

Despite the fact that the highest point is 1860, I feel absolutely normal here, which is even surprising.

In addition, on Saturday, the competitive conditions turned out to be truly winter, and there was an opportunity to really show their strength, "Bolshunov said on Match TV.

Talking about the tactical plan for the race, the athlete admitted that he initially wanted to run away from his rivals in the lead.

“When I was leaving for the start, there were thoughts not to break the social distance and to keep from everyone at a distance of at least 1.5 meters.

As a result, it turned out even more, ”the triumphant rejoiced.

Of course, there were questions about the rivalry with Klebo, because less than a week ago, the marathon within the World Cup ended in a serious scandal involving both.

As a result, the Norwegian was deprived of the gold medal, and the Russian who broke the stick rose to second place.

“Everything was as usual.

What happened in Oberstdorf will remain in Oberstdorf.

Now we continue to fight, show good results with a clear head and respect for each other, and, of course, we are starting to think about preparing for the Olympic Games.

In the future, I will be happy to meet him on the track, compete and show results without breaking the rules, "Bolshunov added.

The winner was also reminded of the invitation to his own wedding for Klebo.

Bolshunov noted that it remains in effect, but Johannes will probably not be able to attend the celebration.

“He replied that he had signed up for the show on April 20-30 and that he might not be able to come.

Why won't she transfer it?

Well, yes, it could probably be postponed.

I don’t know, ”the skier summed up.

In turn, the coach of Alexander Yuri Bordavko noted that his ward competently spread his forces along the distance, which helped him to make a decisive breakthrough and win.

“Klebo did not support this spurt, and Sasha calmly brought the race to its logical conclusion.

He coped psychologically, believed that he was capable of more.

I can’t say that someone went to the start without desire, there was a fight on the track, everyone fought for the result, ”said Borodavko.

And the rivals on this day could only admire the domestic athlete.

So, the coach of the Norwegian national ski team Eirik Muir Nossum compared Bolshunov with a strong bear and promised that the Scandinavians would try to follow his example.

According to the specialist, no one is able to maintain such a high speed for a long time as he.

Klebo also paid tribute to his opponent and congratulated him on his victory.

At the same time, the three-time Olympic champion did not hide his irritation that the leader of the overall ranking of the CM too easily left him and attributed this to the excellent work of the skis.

Also, the Norwegian, like Bolshunov, promised not to conceal anger at the opponent and stressed that everything that happened at the World Cup in Oberstdorf, including in the marathon, remained in the past.

“Many thanks to our service team.

She did everything by a million percent "

A few hours later, Stupak won the victory.

At the championship of the planet, unlike her compatriot, Julia was left without medals in personal races, and therefore this success became especially important for her.

In the absence of Teresa Johaug, there was no equal to the Russian woman, and at the finish she was ahead of another Norwegian Heidi Veng.

“Even during the warm-up I realized that I was feeling well.

There was a feeling that it would be a great fight.

Thanks to the skis, sometimes I scold them, sometimes I praise them, but I always leave an honest review.

They worked amazingly today.

Many thanks to our service team.

She did everything a million percent.

Everything was going well in the race, "Stupak said on Match TV.

The domestic athlete also said when she realized that she could take first place.

“I heard Yegor Sorin say that we are going into the lead, and I began to understand: the pedestal is close.

We arrived in Switzerland a little early to acclimatize, maybe due to this we managed to catch the courage, "Stupak added. 

And the coach of the Russian national team Sergei Turyshev was glad that on the last loop, when his ward made an attempt to break away, the rivals began to be eliminated themselves.

“If on the last rise she came with the rest of the girls, then they would ask her to attack in full.

The American women, apparently, decided to try some special tactics, breaking away from the very beginning, "the specialist emphasized.

In turn, Borodavko especially noted that Stupak remained in the lead for most of the race and at the same time retained strength until the very finish.

“She always walked either in the“ head ”of the peloton, or in leading positions.

Key moment?

Our athlete managed to create a certain gap with an excellent finishing spurt, after which she brought the race to its logical conclusion.

I am very happy for Yulia - this is our potential leader.

Today's mass start is another confirmation of this ”, - quotes the words of the coach“ Championship ”. 

Finally, Veng, who until the end tried to fight the Russian woman and ended up losing 7.1 seconds to her, was also pleased with winning the silver medal.

According to the Norwegian, Julia at the moment is simply stronger and "much better" than her, and therefore it was unrealistic to fight in the finish line.