One of the most massive sporting events in the country - "Russian Ski Track" - was held on Saturday, February 11.
The five-hour media marathon alone covered more than 20 cities.
Only at the Planernaya base near Moscow, more than 10 thousand people came to the start.
The sports festival did not go unnoticed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who congratulated all the participants in the race.
“It is gratifying that this wonderful initiative, born more than 40 years ago, has been embodied in a large-scale nationwide project.
It is precisely these - well-organized, accessible to all events that bring together a huge number of participants - that are in demand at all times.
They temper the character, promote the values of a healthy lifestyle, the upbringing of a harmonious personality," Putin said in a telegram.
Both amateurs and professionals traditionally perform in the "Ski Track of Russia".
However, this time the competitions differed in that athletes from the national team took to the tracks in different cities of the country.
Alexander Bolshunov fled in Moscow, Yulia Stupak - in Nizhny Tagil, Alexander Maltsev - in Sochi.
For athletes, this start has become a stage of preparation for the “Champion Heights” in Malinovka, which will be an alternative to the World Championship.
Unfortunately, not everyone came to the competition in the best shape.
So, Bolshunov was supposed to be in the mountains in Sochi, but he caught a cold and came to the capital.
However, that didn't stop him from winning his 10K run at Bitz by a wide margin.
"Tired.
In fact, plans have changed.
The gathering in Sochi had to be interrupted because he fell ill.
Then he flew here, and here his wife and Eva also fell ill.
We already wanted to leave for Malinovka, but we had to change our plans a bit and carry out interval work here.
I expected to see more skiers, to be honest.
No, I'm not ready yet.
We still need to do some work, after which we will see.
Still, the disease knocks out a little, ”Bolshunov said in a commentary on Match TV.
The second line was taken by Raul Shakirzyanov, the third - by Ruslan Ablyazizov.
Both skiers showed a result one minute worse than the winner with a cold.
Vancouver Olympic champion Nikita Kryukov, who now works as a coach, also went to the start with Alexander.
“You called me “Professor of Sprint”.
Therefore, I tried to work out the starting clearing.
And he went out with Bolshunov almost on the same foot, giving him a slight head start.
I think: “Why upset the guy?
Let him go ahead, I won’t interfere, ”the three-time world champion joked in a conversation with reporters.
Yulia Stupak and Evgeny Belov had no equal in Nizhny Tagil.
The organizers of the competition presented snowmobiles to the winners of the races.
In addition, 1 million rubles as certificates were distributed among the participants in the sports race, who took places from second to tenth.
A stubborn struggle for the first place unfolded in Sochi, where, in addition to Maltsev, Aleksey Chervotkin and Ivan Yakimushkin performed.
As the coach of the Russian national team Yegor Sorin admitted, despite the status of the race, it is always important for any athlete to win.
He also noted the features of the southern route.
“Comparing with the Moscow region would be wrong, here the stadium is not suitable for a mass race, there will be about 100 participants.
Difficult track, climbs, descents are not suitable for everyone, ”Sorin explained.
At the same time, the athletes themselves believe that they are in good physical shape, since the team has already spent two weeks at an altitude of 1500 m. “I hope everything will be fine for Malinovka.
I will fight for medals there, ”said Maltsev.
At the same time, the head of the FLGR, Elena Vyalbe, is sure that even sick Bolshunov and Denis Spitsov will perform at the Championship Heights tournament.
“Everyone will come.
For us, this is like an alternative start to the World Cup.
Races will take place on the same days.
Everyone will take part if they don't catch a cold.
With us, as always before important starts, Bolshunov fell ill, went down from the mountains to Sochi.
We hope that the race will come to his senses.
Spitsov fell ill, even more.
But everyone plans to take part.
We even have a selection, you just can’t come, ”said Vyalbe.
As for the "Ski Tracks of Russia", the president of the FLGR did not hide her joy from the number of participants in the competition.
“Look what a human river goes to this event.
For me, this is a great happiness.
Because the sport that I love very much can gather so many participants at the same time.
People who may not go skiing every day,” Vyalbe added.
This year, the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Oleg Matytsin also entered the track.
He participated in the 2 km race.
“First of all, I got great pleasure from understanding that thousands of ski and sports lovers have gathered here.
People came with their families.
This shows once again that sport in our country is a very important component of life,” said Matytsin.
This time, not only Russians, but also representatives of other countries, in particular, Zambia, took part in the Ski Track of Russia.
Students of the Ural Federal University surprised everyone in Yekaterinburg.
They rode awkwardly so far, but promised not to abandon this sport.
“I need more practice not to fall.
I want to continue this experience and ride more, ”said Eustace Sokon on Match TV.
Many former athletes brought children to the event.
So, the silver and bronze medalist of the European Biathlon Championship Yana Romanova walked the distance of 2023 meters with her son Nikita.
“I try to support in my son the desire to beat me, other rivals equal to him.
For now, it's more of a fun activity.
But I want the spirit of competitive wrestling to wake up in the future.
Because I seem to go out for other purposes, but there is still a desire to compete.
And I want to convey this spirit to my children, ”admitted Romanova.
The organizers did their best to entertain the audience.
So, in Khimki, a carnival race took place, the participants of which went to the start, including in the images of a robot, Albert Einstein, Baba Yaga, a bride and a surfer.