Babikov said he had no questions about the venues for the first stages of the Russian Cup

Biathlon World Champion Anton Babikov told he understood why the decision was made to stage the Russian Cup stages in Khanty-Mansiysk and Uvat, where freezing weather had set in.

From November 24 to 27, Khanty-Mansiysk hosts the first stage of the Russian Biathlon Cup. On Saturday morning, the temperature at the competition site fell to -27 degrees Celsius, due to which it was decided to postpone the pursuit until Sunday. The relay races scheduled for November 27 will not take place.

– In Uvat, for sure, everything will be the same. Is there a question about the venue of the competition?

– Initially, the forecast in Uvat was more benign, only in recent days it has become so borderline. I think the races will take place, but it’s still -19 or -20 degrees. There is no doubt about the competition. We came here from Tyumen. There, despite the presence of the prepared snow from last year, they have recently been training in the rain. We understand that it is impossible to change at the last moment, because everything is planned in advance. It is very convenient here in terms of logistics: Khanty-Uvat-Tiumen. Perhaps a more lenient place, but then where to go? Everyone should ride here and then move somewhere together. Here most people were already on the vkatka. There are no questions.

The race decision will be made again in the morning. If the temperature turns out to be borderline and they decide to organize the competition, will it be interesting for you, as an athlete who took 21st place in the sprint?

– I’m hungry to fulfill my potential and my training experience, because in all the training sessions I was much stronger than in the sprints yesterday, so I’m not giving up, I understand that I can show a completely different result. I believe in it and I’m ready to show it regardless of the place in the sprint. The main thing is to feel confident, to take the tone.