Russia sweep board at opening cross-country World Cup

Russian athletes claimed all but one of the podium positions at the season opening IPC Cross-Country and Biathlon World Cup on Wednesday (2 December), at home in Tyumen.

The hosts registered a near 100 per cent record in the short and middle distance classic cross-country races at the Pearl of Siberia winter sports centre.

Nineteen-year-old Ivan Golubkov (12:53.2) provided a shock in the short distance men’s sitting, claiming victory over his more experienced teammates Aleksandr Davidovich (12:59.1) and multiple Paralympic champion Roman Petushkov (13:22.1).

World Champion Vladislav Lekomtsev, 20, proved that he has not lost his form in the men’s middle distance standing, taking the win in 24:57.7

Rushan Minnegulov (25:24.1) recorded an incredible last stint to seal second place, moving up from fifth after 2.5km. Aleksandr Pronkov (25:25.4) finished third.

Sochi 2014 silver medallist Stanislav Chokhlaev (25:20.3) and guide Oleg Kolodiichuk were dominant throughout the men’s middle distance visually impaired for first place.

Multiple Paralympic and World Championships medallist Nikolay Polukhin (26:21.4), guided by Andrey Tokarev were second, followed by Alexsander Artemov and guide Illya Cherepanov.

Maria Iovleva (6:54.6) took a convincing win in the women’s short distance sitting, finishing 14 seconds ahead of closest competitor Nadezhda Fedorova (7:08.1).

The USA’s Oksana Masters (7:13.9) was the only non-Russian skier to make it onto the podium all day in third.

Double Paralympic champion Anna Milenina (24:02.4) showed her intentions on her comeback in the women’s middle distance standing, after missing out on the 2015 World Championships.

Milenina led Natalia Bratiuk (26:16.8) and Ekaterina Rumyantseva (26:40.8) onto the podium in second and third respectively.

In the women’s middle distance visually impaired, triple Paralympic champion Elena Remizova (23:31.8) and guide Maksim Pirogov concluded Russia’s top finishes for the day.

Mikhalina Lysova (23:50.6), guided by Alexey Ivanov, was second and Marina Galitsyna (25:34.5) with guide Evgeniy Fatkhullin was third.

Full results are available online.

Competition continues in Tyumen on Thursday (3 December) with long distance free, before a rest day on Friday (4 December).

Cross-country competitions conclude on Saturday (5 December) with sprint races, before biathlon gets underway between 6-9 December.

Pictures, updates and coverage will also be available on IPC Nordic Facebook and on IPC Nordic Twitter.