Alexander Bolshunov won again: an incident happened in Kirovsk

The final of the Cup of Russia in cross-country skiing held a “cutting” for men

Alexander Bolshunov became the winner of the finals of the Russian Cup in cross-country skiing at a distance of 15 km in a classic style with a separate start (38.41.5 seconds). Ilya Semikov came second with a delay of almost 50 seconds, and Denis Spitsov came in third.

The first men’s race in Kirovsk (Murmansk region) at the Russian Cup brought surprises of the weather. The winner himself, Olympic champion Alexander Bolshunov, said that the race took place on the warmest day of those that he had been in Kirovsk. At 10 degrees of heat, a hat and gloves already seemed completely superfluous, although this was just tolerable and fixable. But the fact that I had to change skis 15 minutes before the start caused questions and excitement.

It turned out that the equipment that was run in for the race was no longer suitable for the weather that had jumped towards the heat. “They took a new pair, set it up, and I ran them without even trying.”

Sasha ran in such a way that no one to his company and stuffed. And, apparently, he was not cunning at all and did not embellish when he said that he felt joy before the start. Firstly, the disease that covered before the Russian championship in Tyumen, which took place at the end of March, completely disappeared. Bolshunov then had to get in shape already during the races. Secondly, Kirovsk has an excellent track. “I got here early to ride.”

So Alexander rolled to victory, allowing his seconds not to fool anyone in search of at least the slightest intrigue: who will be the winner. And after all, Bolshunov even managed to almost fall. Then he said that somehow he started quickly, overestimated the pace on the first lap, he wanted to win back everywhere. “Such an incident happened that he interfered with himself, put a stick, stumbled.”

The “incident” happened at the turn after the cut-off of 3.7 km. And by 5 km, he beat the closest pursuer Artem Maltsev by almost 20 seconds.

And then the intriguer of the race decided to become another, albeit not in the fight for gold. The track connected Bolshunov with Denis Spitsov, who was already more than a minute behind. Denis did not miss his chance to increase the pace in a duet with Bolshunov.

Although Spitsov actually doubted whether he should go to the start because of a cold: he arrived after the marathon, “dry throat, stuffy nose.” But – he went to the start, and then he was ready to bow to the servicemen for the medal he got. He stated that everything in the race was decided for him by skis. “I fought and from the first kilometers I understood that, despite not the fastest start, I won back on the descents.” Evgeniy Belov, who became fourth, was beaten by Spitsov by four seconds.

Bolshunov, regarding Spitsov, who joined him at a distance, said this: it was not cat and mouse, just experienced athletes understand that if one constantly goes ahead, then the speed will be average. And if you change, you can win up to five seconds per lap. And Denis, they say, understood that he had an intermediate fourth place and could compete for the top three: “With my help, by myself and with the help of skis.”

Ilya Semikov, who won silver, was happy with the medal. Although “a big gap from Sanya Bolshunov” and noted. He said that he managed to pass two laps well, but the last one was a little lacking. “I’m glad I made it.” He also said that in the season he set a goal to beat Bolshunov in some personal race. Now the task is carried over to the next season.