Bolshunov's answer to Klebo and another success of Sorina

The Russian cross-country skiing championship in Tyumen is gradually drawing to a close.

Relay races took place on Friday at the "Pearl of Siberia" stadium.

In the men's 4x10 km race, the victory was won by the team of the Northwestern Federal District (NWFD), which was represented by Alexander Terentyev, Alexander Grebenko, Alexey Shemyakin and Alexander Bolshunov.

The second place went to the Tyumen region, the third - to the representatives of the Komi Republic.

Moreover, the local athletes were doubly difficult: as in the previous two disciplines, Gleb Retivykh, who started at the first stage, again failed to avoid a fall, so his partners had to pull the team from low positions.

After the third transfer of the relay, three athletes were in the lead at once - Bolshunov, Ermil Vokuev and Ivan Yakimushkin.

Already on the first lap, the representative of the Northwestern Federal District made an attempt to break away from the pursuers, however, the Tyumen did not let go of the opponent and the struggle for gold began between two skiers.

But on the 38th kilometer of the race, the owner of the Big Crystal Globe accelerated sharply and literally in a few meters the interval between them was 11 seconds.

And at the finish line, Alexander's advantage increased more than threefold - up to 35.40 seconds.

Sharing his impressions of the race, Bolshunov praised his partners and said that the right tactics helped him win.

“Firstly, I would like to congratulate our entire team.

I never doubted the guys for a second.

They proved that they are men.

They all worked great.

I was sure that after three stages we will not have any lag.

And so it happened.

Three of us went to the stage.

Then we were left alone with Vanya Yakimushkin.

I saw how the skis work, I felt my condition.

On the third lap, I made the main acceleration, and then I reached the end, ”the Tyumen Arena portal quotes Bolshunov.

For the leader of the Russian national team, this relay was the final race in the Russian championship, as he decided to withdraw from the Sunday marathon.

According to the coach of the national team Yuri Borodavko, the skier needed four starts, each of which he won.

“The season for the athlete turned out to be difficult, especially since he has another marathon ahead - Yugorsky, which will be held on April 10.

He wants to take a break now so that he can continue training later.

Alexander will not go to the Khibiny Ski Track, ”explained Borodavko to TASS.

It is worth noting that Bolshunov is thinking not only about the next starts, but also about the upcoming Olympic season.

He spoke about plans to win the Games gold, which is missing in his medal collection, and also expressed hope for the continuation of the confrontation with Johannes Klebo.

We will remind, the other day the Norwegian again raised the topic of the scandal at the finish of the World Cup, saying that the Russian pushed him off the track.

“We will meet at the Olympic Games and there we will definitely measure our strength.

Everything has already passed, there is nothing to look back, "- quotes Bolshunov" Sport-Express ".

In the women's relay, the victory was celebrated by the team of the Tyumen region, consisting of Tatyana Sorina, Olga Kucheruk, Ekaterina Smirnova and Anna Grukhvina.

Silver went to the team of Tatarstan, and bronze went to the team of the Siberian and Far Eastern Federal Districts (SDVFO).

Commenting on the success, Sorina admitted that this award is especially dear to her: “It was the result of teamwork.

Everyone is very happy and happy that we managed to take the gold.

The skis worked just fine.

Many thanks to our service. "

For Sorina, this gold became the fourth at the current Russian championship.

Prior to that, she climbed to the highest step of the podium in the 10 km freestyle race, in the 15 km skiathlon and in the team sprint.

According to Elena Vyalbe, President of the Russian Cross-Country Skiing Federation (FLGR), the success of the Tyumen Region did not surprise her: “The expected victory is the most stable of all teams, everything is predictable.

Of course, I wanted all the members of the Russian national team to stand on the podium, but not everyone has worthy teams. "

The scuffle between Bykov and Afanasyev and Vokuev's insult

The relay races became the second team competition in the Russian championship.

Prior to that, athletes competed for awards in sprints.

The women's start ended in victory for Sorina and Yekaterina Smirnova, who were 2.17 seconds behind Natalya Nepryaeva and Svetlana Zaborskaya in the final.

The third place, unexpectedly for many, remained with the juniors Alyona Baranova and Veronica Stepanova.

Much more dramatic was the men's race, which was remembered not only for the gold of Bolshunov and Terentyev, but also for several incidents.

After the finish of the first semi-final, the representative of Tatarstan Anton Bykov, for no apparent reason, first shouted at the Udmurt skier Vladislav Afanasyev, and then kicked him.

He responded with a blow with a stick.

Subsequently, the athletes apologized and shook hands as a sign of reconciliation.

However, this did not save them from punishment: both were disqualified for unsportsmanlike behavior that could lead to injury, and the results of their teams were canceled.

In a dramatic final on a soggy track, Bolshunov again led his team to victory.

“At the last stage it was more interesting due to the fact that we had to win back the gap.

But today the weather conditions are difficult, the track is soft, the glide was not very good, with every race it got worse.

Aleksandr (Terentyev. -

RT

) already had a little skiing at the end, and I had to work a little so that we won together today.

I decided where to break away already during the race.

The situation changed with each lap, and therefore it was necessary to make decisions directly in the course of the race, "Bolshunov said.

The second place went to the Sakhaliners Ivan Kirillov and Andrey Krasnov, who were 1.85 seconds behind the winners, the third - Denis Spitsov and Ivan Yakimushkin from Tyumen.

At the same time, Vokuev, who became the fourth, was so upset with the result that after the finish he did not congratulate the winner and the prize-winners and defiantly left the stadium.