Ustyugov's superiority over Spitsov and Sorina's two victories: how did you qualify for the Russian national cross-country skiing team in Muonio

Bolshunov is gaining shape

Following the biathletes, the composition of the Russian national team for the first stage of the World Cup was determined by skiers. Even before the test starts that took place on the weekend, it was known that Ivan Yakimushkin, Alexei Chervotkin and Artyom Maltsev would compete in distance races in Ruka. According to a personal quota, Andrey Larkov made his way to the team as the winner of the Continental Cup.

But until Sunday, the participation of the leader of the national team, Alexander Bolshunov, was in question.

The competition in Muonio became the first of the season for the current owner of the Big Crystal Globe: due to two operations on the jaw, the Russian had to interrupt his training.

In control races, the athlete was not faced with the task of showing the maximum.

First of all, Alexander himself needed them in order to understand whether he was ready to perform.

As a result, at a distance of 15 kilometers in a classic style, a native of the Bryansk region showed the fifth result.

As the coach of the Russian national team Yuri Borodavko noted, it was originally planned that Bolshunov would run only ten kilometers, but the skier decided to work it out to the finish line.

“He showed fairly stable speeds, so everything went fine, in normal mode.

Sasha did not fail in the technical and power plans.

So far, he still lacks competitive practice, "- said the specialist in an interview with" R-Sport ".

Anatoly Volkov, an analyst of the Russian national team, also appreciated Bolshunov's performance.

He posted on Instagram a video with the ward's work at a distance and left the caption: “San Sanych is slowly returning to competitive practice.

Step by step.

Slowly but surely.

No fuss, everything will be fine, friends! "

The next day, in the free style race, Alexander felt even more confident and finished third, ahead of the Finn Iivo Niskanen by eight seconds.

The result, it seems, satisfied Bolshunov, and his name was in the final list for the first stage of the World Cup, which starts on November 26.

Ustyugov will perform in distance races

Two more places in the roster were taken by Ilya Semikov and Evgeny Belov, who performed well in the "classics".

As Wartko noted, in this race a heated struggle unfolded for getting into the team.

Four skiers at once showed the result with a difference of three seconds. 

The last member of the national team in distance racing was determined in the Sunday "cut" free style.

Sergey Ustyugov and Denis Spitsov fought for one place.

The two-time world champion performed a little better. 

However, the coaches will also give Denis a chance to excel.

According to Wart, the athlete will run a skiathlon in Lillehammer.

“He needs to prove himself there.

We have always had the podium as a pass to the Olympic Games.

The question is the same today.

Prizes are a guarantee of getting into the team, "the specialist noted in an interview with Ski Sports. 

As for Ustyugov, according to coach Sergei Turyshev, he is now in good condition.

“The race went well, Sergei controlled the situation and understood what local tasks were before him.

He did everything.

We have not yet talked with Ustyugov after the race, but, in my subjective opinion, he is now doing quite well in terms of form, "the specialist admitted.

Also Ustyugov will perform in Finland in the sprint.

Together with Alexander Terentyev and Gleb Retivykh, he was selected for the squad at the end of last season.

The above three will be joined by Sergey Ardashev, Denis Filimonov, Andrey Larkov and Alexander Bessmertnykh, who will also take part in classic distance races. 

Sorina is in great shape

There were also vacancies in the Russian women's national team on the eve of the first stage of the World Cup.

According to a personal quota, like Larkov, Lilia Vasilyeva was selected for the team.

Tatyana Sorina showed an excellent result in Muonio.

The silver medalist of the World Championship won both distance races.

As the coach of the athlete Yegor Sorin noted, it was psychologically important for the Russian woman to perform well at the test starts in order to better tune in to the beginning of the season.

“She wanted to run as well as last year.

Then she was successful in both the control races and the first stage of the Planet Cup.

Because that year she was successful in both the control races and the first stage of the World Cup.

But now the state was not the most optimal, especially last week, when it was not possible to show themselves in the races.

Tatiana was upset and wanted to run well this week to gain confidence, ”said the specialist.

The second result in both races was shown by another team leader Natalya Nepryaeva, whose entry into the lineup hardly aroused anyone's questions.

Also, following the results of the performance in Muonio, Anastasia Rygalina, Maria Istomina and Yana Kirpichenko were selected for the national team.

A good result in Finland was also shown by Veronika Stepanova, who became the third in the race for ten kilometers "skate".

However, the coaching staff decided to test the athlete at the next stages of the World Cup.

As explained by Wart, her classic style is not so good yet.

“Stepanova will go to Lillehammer, where she will run the sprint and skating stage in the relay.

Plus he will take part in a free-style race in Davos.

In the "classic" at the first stage, she can lose a lot, and the next day in pursuit, it will be difficult for her to correct the situation, "the specialist noted.

But Yulia Stupak will go to Ruka, although the Russian woman did not shine at the weekend, finishing ninth in the "classic" and 17th in the free race.

However, there are objective reasons for this: the Olympic medalist was ill with coronavirus in the offseason and only joined the team last week.

Before that, she was preparing for the season according to an individual program.  

In Finland, Stupak will also perform in the sprint.

She will be accompanied by Nepryaeva, Sorina, Vasilyeva, as well as Anastasia Faleeva, Olga Kucheruk and Khristina Matsokina. 

The first selection is over, but domestic skiers will not be able to relax.

During the season, everyone will have to fight for a place in the team at the Olympic Games.

According to Wart, only the current owner of the Big Crystal Globe, Bolshunov, secured a trip to Beijing.

“By the decision of the President of the Russian Cross-Country Skiing Federation, Alexander has already been selected for the team.

And he can start wherever he wants and how he wants.

No one else has such privileges.

Everyone else will have to fight for a place in the World Cup.

The composition to Beijing will be 99.9% complete by December 31.

In an amicable way, you need to take the bull by the horns at the start of the season, ”said Borodavko.