Let the FIS Rollerski World Championships begin!

Bolshunov and Neprayeva start World Rollerski championships in Madona with victories

Biggest stars of the FIS World Rollerski championships, which for the first time is held in Latvian city Madona, Alexander Bolshunov and Natalia Neprayeva from Russia proved their status of favourites and won easily the interval start distance in classic on the first day of World championships. In junior category victories went to swede Johan Ekberg and Russian Anastasia Faleeva.

FIS World Rollerski championships in Madona started with interval start distance in classic, where competed more than 160 participants from 15 countries. Rain during the race and wet surface didn’t disturb the favourites to show their superiority. Title defender Alexander Bolshunov increased his lead with each lap in 20km distance and won half minute in front of teammate from silver relay team at last year Olympics Alexey Chervotkin. Later Chervotkin was disqualified for the breach of classic technique, therefore silver medal was earned by another Russian Ilia Poroshkin (+1:01), who in winter surprised with 5th place at World cup in Cogne in 15km distance in classic. Victor Gustafsson (+1:52) secured that Sweden didn’t remain without a medal in this distance third championships in a row.

Double bronze medallist from Seefeld this winter Natalia Neprayeva was happy to open her first Rollerssking championships with the victory in 10km distance. Lucia Scardoni won her first medal by being second fastest and losing 33 seconds to Neprayeva. Meanwhile last two championships winner in classic style distance and current World cup Rollerski leader Linn Soemskar from Sweden completed the podium, leaving Slovakian hope Alona Prochazkova into the fourth.

Junior women category was dominated by Russians. First two places in 10km distance were won by silver medallists of this year’s World junior championships relay team Anastasia Faleeva and Kristina Kuskova, but Arina Bylinko made it clean sweep for Russians. Only non-Russian winner of the first day was Swede Johan Ekberg, who set the fastest time in 20km distance. Closest rival was Norwegian Amund Korsaeth, but he unfortunately went in the footsteps of Chervotkin and was also disqualified for breach of classic technique. Last year winner at the World cup in Khanty-Mansiysk Alexander Grigoriev with second place provided Russia on the podium in all four groups, but Ola Spigseth made a good effort not to leave Norway without a medal on the opening day of World championships.

Author: Ivars Bacis

Watch the FIS Roller Ski World Championships in Madona, Latvia live on our online streams!

Take me to live stream 9th August 2019 (from 4 pm)

and live stream 9th August 2019 (from 5.30 pm)

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Find the highlights of today's interval start in our image gallery.