– Did you manage to fill the race calendar, how do you plan to do it after the imposition of the sanctions? And how were the priorities set?
– We have decided ourselves that we will organize our departures during the World and European Championships in order to keep pace with the preparation. We picked up the story of the multi-day race “Friendship of the peoples of the North Caucasus”.
I can say that the North Caucasian Federations showed understanding both in terms of organizing events and in terms of training – it’s difficult with Sochi now, and we had to look for other topics. In this regard, Adygea saved us when the calendar literally collapsed. Adygea housed everyone, we had up to 800 athletes in training camp at the same time. The races continued there for a month without interruption. Special thanks to the region and the local federation for this.
Among the priorities was the logistics of areas that contribute to the development of our young riders without having to take them on the highway. We have increased the number of mountain bike competitions, now we are doing the same with cyclocross.
The track is more difficult – we only have three indoor sports facilities. Moreover, there was light at the end of the tunnel for the construction of a federal training center in Adygea. We hope – we are even afraid to talk about it again – that everything will be fine.
– You have repeatedly mentioned the problem of training on the roads. Now skiers are also raising this topic.
– I can say that this year we were helped by both the traffic police and Rosavtodor. We must honor these people. In this situation, when we found ourselves without the possibility of going somewhere to the training camp, the history of road training in Russia changed significantly in a positive direction.
– Which of the races that have returned to the calendar this year would you like to keep for next season?
– This is the “Friendship of the peoples of the North Caucasus”, competitions in Adygea. And, I hope, the “Tour of the Urals” will take place. In the coming days, we will exchange our proposals, we are already working on the implementation of this project. We want to run this race in the summer.
– You spoke of departures in the national calendar on the dates of the World and European Championships. Does that mean you don’t rely on the international calendar?
“Of course, we hope. And how can such plans according to the internal calendar interfere? Eight people from the first team will go to the world championship on the motorway, for example, and will the others stay at home? We are concerned about the closest reserve – age 19-22, juniors. They have to compete. If such an opportunity arises, we will play with pleasure. We are not giving up hope, but we are continuing our work according to schedule.
In addition, we rely on our foreign partners from friendly countries, also in China for the track and their road teams. We are now working with our Olympic Committee to help us set up and run the Chinese NOC.
What can you say about BMX and MTV competitions this season?
These disciplines are popular and attract a large number of young people. We have increased the number of broadcasts of the competition. And our main task now is to ensure that those who went through the training school in these types and could not realize themselves, can prove themselves, for example, on the track after BMX.
It is important for us to keep a contingent that has been trained at a basic level in these events in order to give them the possibility to evolve in several directions.
The main thing is that all this finds understanding. At one time, before BMX became Olympic, we were convinced of the need to support this sport. We made ourselves understood, and suddenly, when it was included in the program of the Games, we had already trained athletes on the BMX flight. Now they want to include flatland in the Olympics program in BMX freestyle, and we have to be ready for that as well. You should always work for a deferred prospect, too.
Source : MatchTV
