Biathletes Latypov and Alimbekova took the Commonwealth Cups: Belarus and Russia shared the awards

Dinara against everyone

Dinara Alimbekova-Smolskaya scored a total of 1750 points. Yes, not being in the best shape and having problems both with health and in training. But, like many athletes in this difficult season with open questions and closed international courses for two countries, she tried to “do everything she is ready for.” So she said: I can’t jump above my head, I’m glad that I have. And one more thing: you need to start when there is an opportunity, and show professionalism.

She showed it, leading the overall standings table, in which she was on the top line. Next – only athletes from Russia, Victoria Slivko is in second place, Irina Kazakevich is in third, and all our biathletes are also in the top 15.

Therefore, this issue – with general joy for Dinara, because her professionalism is really visible, turned out to be from the current agenda. Alimbekova won in the overall standings, not being fully armed in the season. In fact, one is against all Russian women. Truly, nothing stands in the way of a good dancer.

The Commonwealth Cup went to Belarus. So for now, apparently, so: experts believe that the average level of women’s biathlon in Russia shows a good one. At this stage, nothing more. That’s why Yuri Kaminsky says, as always, directly: we have not yet learned how to cook stars in women’s biathlon. I would like to object, but the results, despite the beautiful fight of our biathletes with each other, are protesting.

But experience has been gained, and the fight between our girls is often really good and almost always takes place with intrigue. And maybe this season will be the transition to a new level for them. After all, athletes had a lot in their careers for the first time. Here, for example, the penultimate race of the Commonwealth Cup – pursuit. Anastasia Shevchenko won, (in second place – Victoria Slivko, in third – Ekaterina Noskova).

And this medal became the first gold medal for Nastya. As she herself will say, she cried out “sweat, blood and snot, everything, anything.” It may not sound elegant, but honestly. Although already during the race itself, Nastya knew for sure that she could compete with rivals who were close. I heard how they led her along the track: she ran away with every step. And she only told herself that it was important not to stumble anywhere, victory was close.

But the season itself takes place at Shevchenko to overcome it also for medical reasons. Nastya simply states: there is iron in her leg. That’s why she feels like an iron lady in the literal sense. Leg hurts. The brother (Aleksey Shevchenko) yells, “Gather your leg and run with it.” “Probably everyone laughed, but for me this is a very important support. God forbid, they will pull out this iron. But my core will remain in me.

And in the last race of the Commonwealth Cup, it was a Sunday mass start, the podium was occupied by women from the group of coach Artem Istomin (Dinara Alimbekova was sixth this time). Anastasia Goreeva won, the second was Natalya Gerbulova, the third place was taken by Ekaterina Noskova.

Goreeva went to the start already maximally charged for victory. And she says that it looks like the mass start is now her favorite discipline. “In my opinion, all the mass starts I was in prizes or flowers.” Therefore, I am especially glad that the final race did not disappoint.

Natalya Gerbulova entered that day with the same mood for the maximum result. And throughout the shooting, she listened to a certain song that was advised to her. Apparently, the song “went” as it should. After the finish, Natalia thanked the coaches Artem Istomin and Vitaly Noritsyn: “We fulfilled your wish in the final race of the Commonwealth Cup.” After such words, you don’t need to ask about desire: everything is already victoriously stamped on the pedestal.

Although the path of Ekaterina Noskova to the medal was not as straightforward as that of her colleagues in the group. Katya literally accomplished a civil feat on the track: after the third firing line, she was already fifteenth. Three misses at one turn is a lot. So the coach said, simultaneously analyzing the mistakes: the biathlete technically violated the rhythm of the shooting. This can happen in a fit of emotion. Now, if after two misses she stopped and then worked on without any problems, she would make the race easier for herself.

Noskova herself was happy with her own move and, of course, agreed: three misses at one turn were too much (and only four in the race). But she sweetened the confession: she slightly compensated for the daub at the lines by the fact that she coped with the last shooting, pleased herself. Yes, and the coach, he believes, should be generally satisfied: the biathletes were able to again take the three main places, as it was already in the season – however, in the sprint. (In Ufa, then Liza Kaplina, Noskova and Gerbulova won). And her three medals in three races is a good result at this stage of the Commonwealth Cup.

Edward swift

Eduard Latypov did not betray himself in the last race of the Commonwealth Cup, he won the mass start at the final stage in Tyumen. The victory was his sixth in a row in the Cup. But he became the winner of the overall standings the day before, when he hung gold around his neck in the pursuit. Karim Khalili is in second place overall, Anton Smolsky is third, Anton Babikov is fourth, Alexander Povarnitsyn is fifth.

Having won the pursuit race, Eduard said: every time I complete my task, I fight with myself and my rivals, I try to correct mistakes, but this is not so easy. In any case, it does not happen quickly. We treat such words as passing ones, but they are the most important ones. Behind the simplicity of the formulation is the work of researchers.

In the mass start, Latypov planned to calmly “work in from the first line”, and then keep the speed. In principle, I felt calm, although I had to adjust my plans: either the shot was blown away by the wind, or I blundered myself … But even three misses did not save Buffalo’s rivals.

Latypov called winning the Cup a cool result, although he regretted that he could not compete with the ill Anton Smolsky. “In wrestling it is much better, more interesting, for me as an athlete it is both progress and pleasure.” But he admitted that he nevertheless completed one of the tasks for the season. Now the races of the championship of Russia are coming. And there you need to show high results and try to become the first in the ranking.

Daniil Serokhvostov also spoke about competition the day before. In pursuit, he lost only to Latypov. The biathlete, like all athletes, emphasized that the Commonwealth Cup, of course, cannot be considered as an alternative to the World Cup. And he even specified: when there are races in which the leader Latypov simply reaches the finish line, and no one fights with him, it is difficult to progress. “It even degrades a little bit.”

In the mass start, Daniil really wanted to impose a fight on Latypov. He said that he hoped to fight for places on the podium until the very finish line. True, he himself is ready to watch her already at the finish line, ready to become the first.

Alas and ah: at the very beginning of the race, according to Serokhvostov’s feelings, Kirill Bazhin dropped him. According to Bazhin, Serokhvostov cut him off. Both fell. Bazhin was able to continue the race, but Daniil was at the turn of the broken rifle. He said that he remembers how he was driving behind Latypov, on the descent he began to turn, and Kirill was driving very close to him, “I don’t know why. A second – and I’m already wallowing.

Result: I feel great, the weapon is intact, but the belt fell off and all clips broke, cartridges fell out. “The race is over – I’ll go look for springs.” The mass start raced past Serokhvostov.

And while Daniil was looking for springs, Kirill Bazhin was able to show on the air during a repetition of the collision that he was not to blame. He said that he had gained good speed, “he was driving, and Danek began to go around Edik.” And it turned out that he cut just Bazhin. “His ski even went behind mine! She leaves under me, knocks me under the heel and that’s it, I flew. So the passions from cross-country skiing (remember Ustyugov and Bolshunov with a fall in the blood?) Got to the biathlon tracks.

Weakness – put aside!

The winner of the main prize summed up the first Commonwealth Cup in history: victories do not relax, but motivate. At international competitions, the competition, of course, is much higher, “you can’t give a slack in any way.” What is possible? Get ready to create competition. “I think we could fight for the top 6, even the top 3.”

RBU President Viktor Maigurov said that, alas, our biathletes do not have an international agenda yet. And he admitted that the IBU is the most conservative federation, which is the first to introduce some kind of bans and the last to look around to make a reverse decision. Calendar for the season SBR plans for domestic performances. Perhaps now it will be the same for Russia and Belarus. And then there is the “wild and crazy idea to end the season in Kamchatka.”

But the not crazy idea of ​​our biathlon leaders, which Eduard Latypov nevertheless voiced, is to compete with Johannes Boe. Even if it’s difficult: he doesn’t give anyone a chance, shoots well, runs fast and keeps his form all season. But to think about this possibility – to deprive him of his usual chances – is possible and necessary.