NORDIC JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS. Evgeniy Belov from Russia won clearly the 15 km free technique race at the U23 World Championships in Otepää today.

The Russian World Cup skier manage to ski the 4 x 3,75 km in a time of 35:26.3 and claimed victory 16,1 seconds ahead of his team mate Pavel Vikulin. Raul Shakirzianov completed the Russian success by taking the third spot 23,4 seconds behind Belov.

Andrew Musgrave set the speed of the first kilometers in the 15 km long competition. The athlete from Great Britain who is training in Norway was the fastest in the first lap but then he lost a bit against the strong Russians. At the end Musgrave finished sixth while Belov took over the lead for the second lap on and his team mates increased the pace towards the end as well. Thomas Vestboe from Norway had a strong race on the second lap but lost at the end against Shakirzianov and edged out of the podium with taking the fourth place 29,2 behind Belov.

For Belov it was the greatest success in his career after being second last year in the interval start competition at the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships. Also Vikulin collected already medals in his junior age by taking the third spot in the interval start and the relay victory at the FIS Nordic Junior World Championships 2009.

Weather: sunny, -18,5C
Snow Conditions: hard packed

Quotes

Evgeniy Belov (RUS)

“My classical technique is better than my free one, so I was prepared for a tough fight today. I had to speed up in the finish. I started slowly and the gap on the first lap was 15 seconds but in the second lap I accelerated. All the 4 laps were good for me. I want to win more medals from the rest of the races at Otepää. I am familiar with this track because we have had training camps here. I also competed here last weekend at the World Cup.”

Pavel Vikulin (RUS)

“This is my third medal from Championships and I am very happy about it. I will not attend at Oslo because we as a younger generation have to wait a bit more.”

Raul Shakirzianov (RUS)

“It was a tough race for me, but I had good skies and I am used with cold so this was a helper for me. When I started I aimed at the top three and I am really satisfied with the course and organization. I would also like to thank my coach who has done a great job.”

FIScrosscountry.com
Thursday 27 January 2011

Krista Lahteenmaki impressed and goes for gold

Krista Lahteenmaki from Finland dominated clearly the 10 km free technique competition at the U23 World Championships in Otepää today.

The former Junior World Champion claimed victory in a time of 26:33.3 min on the challenging 3 x 3,3 km course with exactly 1 min gap to the runner up from Russia, Mariya Guschina. Third place took the Norwegian Hilde Lauvhaug, 1.01.8min behind the winner.

Krista Lahteemaki controlled the race from the beginning. She was first after each lap and was able to increase her lead to an minute in the finish. On the first 1,1 km only Hanna Brodin (SWE) was nearly having the same speed the Latheemaki but the Swedish sprinter, who was second last weekend in the World Cup sprint, had to pay the bill on the demanding course and finished at the end on position 14. Mariya Guschina chose another tactic by starting a bit slower into the race with the 7th best intermediate time after 3,3 but increased the speed continuously with having the third best time after the second lap (6,6km) and moved up on the second position in the finish just ahead of the Norwegian Hilde Lauvhaug.

Lahteemaki, who concluded the Tour de Ski as 8th and was in a Tour stage in Oberstdorf second, took her first U23 World Champion title in her first year as a senior. For Guschina it was her greatest success in her career, the young Russian had so far one World Cup start and that was last weekend in Otepää at the 10 km in classical technique where she finished 28th. Hilde Lauvhaug won her second U23 World Championships medal after finished second last year in the Pursuit.

 Weather: sunny, -18,5C
Snow Conditions: hard packed

Quotes

Krista Lahteemaki (FIN)

“I am very satisfied with my competition today and happy about the victory – the feeling to be a U23 World Champion is nice. The weather was very cold, but everything else was very good. My skis were very good, the track was good – it is a demanding course here in Otepää. Now I will leave home today and concentrate on my next races.”

Mariya Guschina (RUS)

“I am very satisfied with the silver medal. I didn’t have any tactics, I just worked my best from the start to the finish. The track was hard but since I was in the camp here last summer I had the chance to get to know the track and to know what I had to do in order to be successful.”

Hilde Lauvhaug (NOR)

“Yes, it was very cold, but for me it was okay. I don’t think it affected my result, I am very satisfied with the third place.”

FIScrosscountry.com
Thursday 27 January 2011

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