How Nepryaeva and Prokofieva repeated each other: a rarity in cross-country skiing

Russian Cup final kicked off in Kirovsk

In Kirovsk from April 7 to April 9, the final of the Russian Cup in cross-country skiing is taking place. Natalia Nepryaeva and Anastasia Prokofieva won the gold medal in the women’s 10 km classic race with the same result at the finish line (29 minutes 58.8 seconds). The third was Maria Istomina (30:30.2).

Russian skiers are approaching the end of the season in Kirovsk at the Russian Cup. Women’s “cutting” with the classics brought an amazing result: two golds! And the leader of Russian women’s skiing Natalya Nepryaeva celebrated the victory with Anastasia Prokofieva.

Nepryaeva, due to illness, was forced to withdraw from the Russian Championship in Tyumen. I recovered, but I didn’t know what to expect from the start in Kirovsk: training is one thing, but real racing is another. She had to start earlier than those who claimed medals: in the distance standings, Natalya was in fifth place, Ekaterina Smirnova, Anastasia Prokofieva, Veronika Stepanova and Maria Istomina were in front.

But, having entered the distance, Natalya Nepryaeva was in the lead in all cutoffs. And it seemed that this was how it would end. But Anastasia Prokofieva had her own idea of ​​the situation on the track. In the catching up group of Istomin, Smirnov and Prokofiev, Smirnova was the first to fail. Even before the start, Katya complained about her condition: acclimatization let her down. A couple of kilometers before the finish line, Prokofieva ran away for 14 seconds from Istomina.

Yes, in the first half of the race there was a moment when Nastya was only two seconds behind Natalia, but then Nepryaeva increased the lead to seven seconds. And for the finishing segment, Prokofiev energetically ate these seconds. It turned out – in the name of double gold. And it was the very rare case in cross-country skiing when athletes showed the same time. There can be no photo finish in the individual race, the result is determined by the technician: who was the first of the athletes to go beyond the gate.

Prokofieva admitted after the finish: two first places – this is the first time she has met with this. No, I had to share places with someone – but in a dozen skiers, not on a podium. Seeing herself on the scoreboard for the first time in the season in first place, Nastya generally thought that this was a mistake. “After all, I was second in the course of the distance and it seemed that I would not be able to get closer to Natasha.”

And she said that she was focused only on keeping Istomin away. Although at the end of a long descent, she heard someone shouting to her that Nepryaeva was five seconds behind. “I give all my best in the last ascent, just as much as possible, I went down, everything worked out clearly everywhere” And she continued to think that “the main thing is to win against Masha”.

Anastasia Prokofieva also equaled points with Ekaterina Smirnova in the Russian Cup distance standings. And, although she says that the sprint is not her distance, but tomorrow she will try to do her best, because she wants to keep her position in the top 6 of the general classification.

Bronze “cutting” went to Maria Istomina, who lost thirty seconds to the champions with a ponytail, but snatched less than three seconds from Daria Rogozina. Veronika Stepanova, who also took to the track after recovery, was quite inferior to Nepryaeva from the very beginning of the race. The result – the sixth place, losing to the golden skiers – 38 seconds.

After the victory, Natalya Nepryaeva said that she was not satisfied with the way she felt or the way she rolled skis. And yes, the race was tough. “Most likely, this is due to the large number of missed starts.” As for the two gold medals, the team leader remembered that the same time happened at the World Cup. And at the Olympic Games in the “cutting” I even had to give out two bronze medals. And “everyone will be happy and glad for the first two places.”