The main sports news came today from Italy: Natalya Nepryaeva became the first Russian skier in history to win the prestigious Tour de Ski race – the Ski World Cup. In the final race, Natalya finished fourth, but in the overall standings she won an unconditional victory. The leader of the Russian men’s team also showed real fighting qualities. Alexander Bolshunov won the overall silver medal. And in the final race Denis Spitsov took silver.
Natalia Nepryaeva was thrown so high that none of our girls had ever climbed. What it cost her – it was visible at the finish line: she collapsed. On the merciless cruel mountain of the Alpe, Chermis Nepryaeva left all her strength. But she didn’t give a handicap to anyone, at the start of the last stage of the Tour de Ski I entered the leader’s yellow jersey with a margin of 1 min 12 sec, brilliantly winning the sprint on January 1. She just had to be patient.
“Be patient, Natasha!”, The coaches shouted along the entire distance. Natasha saw the backs of her rivals, did not let go. What the Swede Ebberson did not do, but she could not tear herself away. At the 9th kilometer, the gap stabilized, it became clear that no one had the strength for a miracle. Nobody could win back 1 min 12 sec from the Russian woman.
“Of course, I was very tuned in to this last race. Because it is the most important of the whole tour, the most decisive, and yet because of it I worried the most. I am glad that today everything worked out in my favor, I managed to keep leading positions “, – says Nepryaeva.
This finish is history. Natasha is the first Russian skier to kiss the Tour de Ski crystal pyramid. As she herself admits, her mother in Tver did not breathe until the very finish.
“The experience was great! But inside there was some kind of faith that she would cope. When she crossed the finish line, then there was a sigh, relief with this victory. Nepryaeva Irina Nepryaeva.
But she wanted to withdraw from the race: her throat hurt. Fortunately, we started in Italy with a plus. All that was needed was strength. This season, Nepryaeva was invincible in sprints. A hard climb in the final is the final test. Perhaps before even greater victories.
“Today, of course, she showed a very fighting character. Because the distance uphill is difficult. And not only functionally, but also morally, the burden of responsibility put pressure on her. I think she is now in good condition. I think if this form is maintained to Beijing, then, perhaps, we can get some kind of medal, “- says the honored coach of Russia, coach Natalia Nepryaeva Alexander Smirnov.
“This is truly a stratosphere! That is, Natalia Nepryaeva writes the history of the world ski track, but so that she becomes truly truly great … She can, and she needs to win an Olympic victory in February in Beijing!” – said sports commentator Dmitry Guberniev.
Immediately after Italy, our team moved to Le Ruse in France, where the next stage of the World Cup will take place on January 14. The winner of the Tour de Ski is officially the leader of the race.
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