Big man. Bolshunov has no equal at the World Cup! World Ski Championships tournament

In two days, on November 24, in the Finnish Kuusamo, at the famous ski resort Ruka, the 2018/19 Ski World Cup starts. 14 stages, including three multi-day stages - a mini-tour in Lillehammer, the Tour de Ski and the World Cup Final - based on the results of which the winners of the Large Crystal Globes, as well as small World Cups in distance and sprint competitions, will be determined, will gather millions of spectators on stadium tracks and at screens . And this carousel will end with the participation of the best ski racers on the planet on March 24 in Quebec, Canada.

As in previous years, we will constantly update this news, adding links to the start schedule and television broadcasts of each stage, so that it becomes a kind of guide to the 2018/19 Ski World Cup. Readers can always find a permanent hyperlink to it in the left column of our website in the “World Cup” section.

PeriodI
24.11. Sat Ruka FIN Sprint C Sprint C
25.11. Sun Ruka FIN 10km C 15km C

Three-day mini-tour in Lillehammer
30.11. Fri Lillehammer NOR Sprint F Sprint F
01.12. Sat Lillehammer NOR 10km F 15km F
02.12. Sun Lillehammer NOR 10km C 15km C Pursuit

08.12. Sat Beitostolen NOR 15 km F 30 km F
09.12. Sun Beitostolen NOR Relay Relay

Period II

Tour de Ski
29.12. Sat Toblach ITA Sprint F Sprint F
30.12. Sun Toblach ITA 10km F 15km F
01.01. Tue Val Müstair SUI Sprint F Sprint F
02.01. Wed Oberstdorf GER 10km C 15km C Mass Start
03.01. Thu Oberstdorf GER 10km F 15km F Pursuit
05.01. Sat Val di Fiemme ITA 10km C 15km C Mass Start
06.01. Sun Val di Fiemme ITA Final Climb Final Climb Pursuit

Period III

12.01. Sat Dresden GER Sprint F Sprint F
13.01. Sun Dresden GER Team Sprint F Team Sprint F

19.01. Sat Otepää EST Sprint C Sprint C
20.01. Sun Otepää EST 10 km C 15 km C

26.01. Sat. Ulricehamn SWE 10km F 15km F
27.01. Sun. Ulricehamn SWE Relay Relay

Period IV

09.02. Sat Lahti FIN Sprint F Sprint F
10.02. Sun Lahti FIN Team Sprint C Team Sprint C

16.02. Sat Cogne ITA Sprint F Sprint F
17.02. Sun Cogne ITA 10km C 15km C

19.02. 2019 World Ski Championships
03.03. Seefeld (Austria)

PeriodV

09.03. Sat Oslo NOR 50km C Mass Start
10.03. Sun Oslo NOR 30km C Mass Start

16.03. Sat Falun SWE Sprint F Sprint F
17.03. Sun Falun SWE 10km F 15km F

World Cup Final

22.03. Fri Québec CAN Sprint F Sprint F
23.03. Sat Québec CAN 10km C 15km C Mass Start
24.03. Sun Québec CAN 10km F 15km F Pursuit

Bolshunov's success in South Korea, where he stood on the podium four times, seemed incredible. At the start of the Olympic season, Sasha had several successful races, and he was expected to get into the top ten, and, with a happy coincidence, even get into the medals. But Bolshunov spent the Games as an elite skier. All he lacked for gold was experience. You should have seen his despair when he finished second in the marathon.

A. Bolshunov. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

In the first races of the new season, Bolshunov showed that last year’s success was not an accident, that he was just as hungry for victories and was ready to defeat the Norwegians at least every day. The final of the sprint was very indicative in this sense. On the climb before the finish, Olympic champion from Norway Johannes Klebo broke away from Alexander with a powerful jerk. In this spurt one could feel the same superiority that was so noticeable in Korea. But imagine his surprise when he discovered that this Russian was rushing to the finish line on the right, powerfully pushing off “on his hands,” and Klebo had nothing to answer. Then the Norwegian sat with a detached look in the snow, and they could not take him away. He still didn't understand what happened.

Everything went well all day, and in the final until the last straight, too,” said Klebo in an interview with Sport Express . “But then the whole world seemed to turn upside down.” I looked back and thought that Bolshunov was on a different track. And so I relaxed. I made the mistake that juniors usually make, although I knew that Bolshunov was very strong. Well, it happens. We will continue to work.

The Russian skier’s actions once again confirmed the truism that you need to fight until the last second:

Why did Klebo slow down at the end? It's better for you to ask him. He apparently didn’t expect me to be so close; it’s not his style to lose by a small margin. I was nervous before the start of the day, but gradually, after qualifying, I gained confidence. And they skied great, so there was nothing to worry about in the final.

In the women's sprint, bronze medalist of the Pyeongchang Games Yulia Belorukova beat Olympic champion Stina Nielsen from Sweden and silver medalist of the 2018 Games Maiken Caspersen Falla from Norway at the finish line. And this was the second gold of the stage.

Yu. Belorukova. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

Bolshunov won third in the 15 km individual time trial. This time the argument with Klebo failed. There were no significant arguments from the Norwegian side. He was almost 48 seconds behind and finished in 9th place. A little higher, in fourth place, was the once great and terrible Martin Jonsrud Sundby, and another Norwegian, Emil Iversen, came second.

You should not think that Bolshunov, like the honored Indian Goiko Mitic, single-handedly crushed the insidious pale-faced people (that is, the Norwegians). There were five more Russian skiers in the top twenty - Andrey Larkov, Maxim Vylegzhanin, Alexey Chervotkin, Ivan Akimushkin and Ilya Semikov. There are, however, more Norwegians so far - seven.

J. Klebo. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

It should be taken into account that Denis Spitsov, another hero of Pyeongchang, did not go to Ruka. As a supporter of skating, they decided to save it for future stages. World champion Sergei Ustyugov continues to treat his broken arm, and Tour de Ski medalist Evgeniy Belov was not able to qualify for the first stages at all. This means that in Ruka the Russian team won with a reserve, and it has a fairly long bench, which promises pleasant discoveries during the season.

Norway became the undisputed leader in world skiing after the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, when doping sandals wiped out the legendary Russian women's team. For more than 15 years they have not allowed anyone to reach the top. New season - new challenge. For the first time, Russia can really oppose the Norwegians.

Perhaps for the first time in recent years, Russian skiers are approaching the next season as favorites. In terms of the number of titles and Olympic awards, our team beats anyone, even the Norwegians. Suffice it to say that one of the Viking leaders keeps three photographs on his bedside table for motivation. All three are Russians! The images motivate him to work even harder.

Basically, Sundby plus against young Russians - this is the main intrigue of the upcoming season. And if we talk about its beginning, then even more specifically: Klebo against Bolshunova. Both feel very confident in both sprints and distance races. Winning the overall World Cup title is not such a fantastic goal for Bolshunova, who, judging by the preseason, is in excellent shape and spirits.

Ustyugov could very well intervene in this fight. But a broken finger after a fall on roller skis left him temporarily out of the game. Our leader will most likely return to duty only after the New Year. But he still has every chance to shine at the World Championships, which this season will take place from February 19 to March 3 in Seefeld, Austria.

Johaug returns

The former ski princess has served a doping ban that cost her participation in the Olympic Games. Despite the loud scandal, Johaug She hasn’t given up training and is obviously approaching the new season in great shape. A week ago, she won both races at a competition in Norway and now aims to win the distance World Cup. Apart from the legends and, no one has managed to win this trophy three times. Johaug is eager to join this honorable company, because she already has two World Cups in distance racing.

Our team prepared for this season according to an unusual scheme. The president of the federation completely abandoned the classic men's and women's teams. Instead, there were mixed training groups led by four different coaches: Markus Kramer, Yuri Borodavko, Egor Sorin And Oleg Perevozchikova. Each of these groups has its own stars, each worked according to its own, separate plan. Whoever is stronger will go to the World Cup races.

Plus, don’t forget about rotation. In cross-country skiing, unlike biathlon, there is specialization between distances and styles. Therefore, you should not be surprised that, for example, there is no 2018 Olympic medalist in the lineup for the first stage of the World Cup. She prefers "horse" and will join the team a little later.

In general, there is probably no such variety of training approaches in any other Russian team in any sport. Wherein Vyalbe manages to avoid squabbles and maintain a normal working atmosphere. Four groups are additional insurance. If one of the coaches miscalculates and ruins the season, there are always three others who worked differently.

So it will definitely be interesting for us. The ski battle “Russians vs. Norwegians” opens tomorrow!

Russian team at the first stage of the World Cup
Men. , Andrey Krasnov, Andrey Sobakarev,

As calendar winter approaches, more and more major international starts appear on the calendar of sporting events. Speed ​​skaters have already begun their season with the World Cup stages, the Grand Prix series of figure skaters is in full swing, and skiers and snowboarders made their first starts on a high-mountain glacier. To the delight of the fans, intrigue has already appeared in the long winter season, the first leaders and their main rivals have appeared, who are destined to color the upcoming sports winter with the colors of bright and uncompromising rivalry.

And of course, fans of winter sports follow their idols everywhere. The bright, colorful torsida has occupied famous tracks, stadiums and ski resorts and spares no effort in supporting its favorites. However, the beginning of the season is not only a time of desperate pain, but also a time to update your equipment, which is so necessary for true fans of winter sports and tourism. Professional equipment will allow you not only to feel closer to your heroes, but also to try your hand at the same slopes and tracks where competitions of various levels are held.

One of the main centers of attraction for the attention of millions of fans in the upcoming season will be ski racing, in which all the main events will begin to unfold on November 24, when the World Cup starts. The upcoming winter season will undoubtedly delight ski lovers with an extensive program, which includes not only 14 stages, three multi-day tours, but also the ski championship in Seefeld. The World Cup will travel throughout Europe and end on March 24 in Quebec, Canada.

But the World Cup will begin for the 11th time in a row in the Finnish Kuusamo, at the famous ski resort of Ruka, where the first sprint race in the classical style will be held on Saturday, and on Sunday the distance races of 10 and 15 km in the classical style will take place on a 5-kilometer loop.

The lack of snow and low temperatures forced the organizers to tense up several weeks before the official opening. However, over the past week, the drop in temperature has allowed the organizers to create the necessary supply of snow to ensure racing at a level worthy of a World Cup stage.

The first races will lift the curtain on the questions: who will choose the sprint and who will prefer distance racing this season? Who will be among the contenders for the main trophy of the season?

Schedule of the World Cup stage in Ruka

(Moscow time)

November 24 (Saturday)
12.00	Sprint (classic style)	Qualification (Women)
12.40	Sprint (classic style)	Qualification (Men)
14.30	Sprint (classic style)	The final
		Men	results
		Women	results
November 25 (Sunday)
12.45	10 km (classic style)	Women		results
14.30	15 km (classic style)	Men		results

Video recordings of ECM

11/24/2018. Sprint. Classic

11/25/2018. 10 km. Classic (women)

11/25/2018. 15 km. Classic (men)

Live broadcasts of the World Cup stage in Ruka, Kuusamo

Eurosport 1

To go to the broadcast, click on the banner

YLE 2

To go to the broadcast, click on the banner. Take advantage

NRK

To go to the broadcast, click on the banner. Viewing is possible using Hola.org or another VPN

List of participants

Sprint

Russian team

Men
Bolshunov Alexander	(Tyumen region)
Krasnov Andrey	(Saint Petersburg)
Maltsev Artem	(Nizhny Novgorod region/Republic of Mordovia)
Petukhov Alexey	(Moscow/Murmansk region)
Zealous Gleb	(Tyumen region)
Sobakarev Andrey	(Novosibirsk region)
Volzhentsev Stanislav	(Komi Republic)
Women
Aleshina Tatyana	(Tyumen region)
Belorukova Yulia	(Komi Republic)
Matveeva Natalya	(Moscow/Ryazan region)
Nepryaeva Natalya
Soboleva Elena	(Novosibirsk region/Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug)
Shapovalova Evgenia	(KhMAO-Yugra)
Nekrasova Polina	(Saint Petersburg)

Norway national team

Men
Sindre Bjørnestad Skar	Bærums Verk og Hauger IF
Eirik Brandsdal	Kjelsas IL
Emil Iversen	IL Varden Meråker
Sondre Turvoll Fossli	Hokksund IL
Finn Hågen Krogh	Tverrelvdalen IL
Kasper Stadaas	IL Heming
Johannes Høstflot Klæbo	Byåsen IL
Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget,	Lillehammer Ski Club
Women
Maiken Caspersen Falla	Gjerdrum IL
Ingvild Flugstad Østberg	Gjøvik Skiklubb
Lotta Udnes Weng	Nes Ski
Ragnhild Haga	Asen IL
Kari Øyre Slind	Oppdal IL
Anna Svendsen	Tromsø skiklubb langrenn
Heidi Weng	IL Bull
Tiril Udnes Weng	Nes Ski

Team Sweden

Men
Viktor Thorn	Ulricehamns IF
Calle Halfvarsson	Sågmyra SK
Oskar Svensson	Falun-Borlänge SK
Teodor Peterson	IFK Umeå
Karl-Johan Westberg	Borås SK
Anton Persson	SK Bore
Women
Hanna Falk	Ulricehamns IF
Stina Nilsson	IFK Mora SK
Ida Ingemarsdotter	Åsarna IK
Maja Dahlqvist,	Falun-Borlänge SK
Anna Dyvik	IFK Mora SK
Moa Lundgren	IFK Umeå

Distance racing

Russian team

Men
Bolshunov Alexander	(Tyumen region)
Vylegzhanin Maxim	(Udmurt republic)
Larkov Andrey	(Republic of Tatarstan)
Semikov Ilya	(Komi Republic)
Chervotkin Alexey	(Moscow)
Yakimushkin Ivan	(Tyumen region)
Volzhentsev Stanislav	(Komi Republic)
Women
Aleshina Tatyana	(Tyumen region)
Belorukova Yulia	(Komi Republic)
Durkina Lydia	(Saint Petersburg)
Zherebyatyeva Anna	(Tyumen region)
Kirpichenko Yana	(Altai Territory/Krasnoyarsk Territory)
Nepryaeva Natalya	(Moscow/Tver region)
Nekrasova Polina	(Saint Petersburg)

Norway national team

Men
Didrik Tønseth	Byåsen IL
Simen Hegstad Krüger	Lyn Ski
Hans Christer Holund	Lyn Ski
Emil Iversen	IL Varden Meråker
Martin Johnsrud Sundby	Røa IL
Sjur Rothe	Voss IL
Johannes Høstflot Klæbo	Byåsen IL
Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget	Lillehammer Ski Club
Women
Therese Johaug,	IL Nansen
Ingvild Flugstad Østberg	Gjøvik Skiklubb
Kari Øyre Slind	Oppdal IL
Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen	IL Heming
Ragnhild Haga	Asen IL
Anna Svendsen	Tromsø skiklubb langrenn
Heidi Weng	IL Bull
Tiril Udnes Weng	Nes Ski

Team Sweden

Men
Viktor Thorn	Ulricehamns IF
Calle Halfvarsson	Sågmyra SK
Oskar Svensson	Falun-Borlänge SK
Daniel Rickardsson	Hudiksvalls IF
Jens Burman	Åsarna IK
Gustav Eriksson	IFK Mora SK
Women
Hanna Falk	Ulricehamns IF
Stina Nilsson	IFK Mora SK
Ida Ingemarsdotter	Åsarna IK
Evelina Settlin	Hudiksvalls IF
Ebba Andersson	Sollefteå skidor IF
Charlotte Kalla	Piteå elite