Toblach : Outsiders Show Up

After a “rest” day following the opening of the 2023-24 Para Nordic World Cup with two 10km races in classic style, Paralympic athletes lined up again for a sprint on Saturday and a final 5km race for sit-skiers, and 10km for other athletes, in free style on Sunday. It was a weekend that saw several outsiders triumph against the top favorites.

Firstly, on Saturday, the Brazilian flag flew atop the podium in the Men Sitting sprint category thanks to Cristian Westemaier Ribera. Comfortable from the qualifications, the young Brazilian gained the edge over the current leader of the World Cup, Giuseppe Romele (ITA). "It was one of my goals. In the semi-final, I managed to control the race well, and in the final, it was full strength to get that long-awaited gold. I trained a lot and I'm very happy with the result," he said at the end of an intense race day. The podium was completed by Bal Pavlo (UKR), third. In the Men Standing category, it was an all-Ukrainian podium celebrated after a closely contested final sprint. Serhii Romaniuk (UKR) claimed the top spot on the podium, followed by Serafym Drahun (UKR) and Grygorii Vovchynskyi (UKR). But the tightest final took place in the Men Vision Impaired category with a German-American duel. Leading the qualifying phases and the semi-final, Nico Messinger (GER), accompanied by his guide Michael Huhn (GER), managed to defend his first place against American Jake Adicoff and his guide Matt Seline (USA), by just 13 hundredths of a second!

On the women's side, the leaders all celebrated another victory. Oksana Masters (USA) once again emerged victorious ahead of Anja Wicker (GER) and her compatriot Kendall Gretsch (USA) in the Women Sitting category. In the Women Standing category, multiple world champion Vilde Nilsen (NOR) once again displayed her power to clinch another victory. Second, Canadian Natalie Wilkie stepped onto her first podium of the season ahead of Liumyla Liashenko (UKR), third. Finally, the Toblach audience once again witnessed German dominance in the Women Vision Impaired category with the victory of Linn Kazmaier and her guide Florian Baumann ahead of the duo Leonie Maria Walter and Christian Krasman.

Third in the Women Vision Impaired category during Saturday's sprint, Simona Bubenickova (CZE), accompanied by her guide David Srutek (CZE), caused a surprise on Sunday by beating the great dominator of her category, German Linn Kazmaier, in the 10km free style race. "Today everything was excellent. Before the race, I was a little bit nervous because my muscles were a little bit tired after the previous races. But after the finish, I was so excited because this is my first World Cup win! It’s amazing, I can’t believe it!" explained the young Czech, radiant after the results ceremony.

On the men's side, in the Vision Impaired category, Jake Adicoff (USA) found his way to the top of the podium on Sunday, ahead of Oleksandr Kazik (UKR), accompanied by his guide Serhii Kucheriavyi (UKR), and the previous day's winner, Nico Messinger (GER), and his guide Robin Wunderle (GER). The same scenario took place in the Men Sitting category with Giuseppe Romele (ITA) once again victorious ahead of Cristian Westemaier Ribera (BRA) and Bal Pavlo (UKR), who also notched his fourth podium in four races! The Ukrainian team could count on several of its athletes on this final day in Toblach, notably Oleksandra Konokova and Liudmyla Liashenko, second and third behind Vilde Nilsen (NOR) in the Women Standing category. Winner of the sprint event the previous day, Serhii Romaniuk (UKR) secured the silver medal, beaten this time by Marco Maier (GER) in the 10km free style race. The Men Standing category podium was completed by Witold Skupien (POL). Finally, the American team achieved a one-two in the Women Sitting category, thanks to Oksana Masters and Kendall Gretsch, ahead of their greatest rival, Anja Wicker (GER).

Photos: Newspower.it