World cup winner Ilya Semikov named three-time Olympic champion Alexandra Bolshunova an athlete from another league, because it is difficult for other Russian skiers to fight him on an equal footing.
Bolshunov won the skiathlon as part of the sixth stage of the Russian Cup in Syktyvkar on Sunday. He traveled 30 kilometers in 1 hour 13 minutes 31.1 seconds. Semikov finished second (+27.7). Completed the first three Alexei Chervotkin (+28.5).
— What are your impressions of the race?
– The race went well, the weather conditions are quite difficult, fresh snow, but everything went well, – Semikov told reporters.
– Which stage of the skiathlon was the most difficult?
– For me, freestyle is always more difficult than the classics. Therefore, the second part had to be patient.
– How does it feel to snatch a medal in your native country?
– Pleasantly! I wanted to please the fans and I also wanted to perform well myself. In principle, it happened in the last race. The first two didn’t match at all.
– Could you understand and compete with Bolshunov today?
– While he is a little in another league anyway. You can see that he is comfortable, accelerating and reaching calmly. So far, it is difficult for us to fight it. Maybe in some disciplines you can compete with him.
Why is Alexander doing this? Because of “physics”?
“He’s simply one of the strongest skiers in the world. It is clear that it is a combination of many factors.
– How was this stage of the Russian Cup for you?
– In the first two races I could not realize myself, but today I am satisfied with everything. And sliding skis, and well-being.
– At the finish line you had a battle with Chervotkin. It seems that at the Russian Cup stages you don’t often see this.
— By the way, we often have such a struggle at the finish line, especially in races from the mass start. On our track, the whole denouement always takes place at the finish.
— With whom was it difficult to go on the track? Porochkin was always nearby.
– Yes, we ran the whole distance three or four together.
– Before the race, discussed with Poroshkin, argued, who will be the highest today?
No, they didn’t argue. In skating, Ilya performed well and I lost to him decently there. I thought it would be difficult to fight him today.
– Did you have team tactics with Poroshkin?
– Today, probably, our team tactics didn’t work out very well.
Source : MatchTV
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