In the first stage of the Russian Cup in cross-country skiing of the 2023/2024 season, a 15 km free time trial men’s race was held in Vershina Teya, the winner of which was Alexander Bolshunov, representing the Bryansk region.
The skier covered the distance in 32.37.9. The second place was the representative of the Tyumen region, Artem Maltsev (+6.3 seconds). The top three winners were closed by skier Savely Korostelv (+19.2 seconds) from the Arkhangelsk region.
In August 2023, Bolshunov strained his back while training in Belarus. He missed the start in Khanty-Mansiysk. Russian national team coach Yuri Borodavko stated that the decision regarding Bolshunov’s performance will be made based on his health condition just before the competition.
Bolshunov won the World Cup twice and won the Tour de Ski. At the Olympic Games in Beijing, the Russian won five medals, including three gold. He was the flag bearer of the Russian team at the closing ceremony of the games.
Bolshunov, like all Russian skiers, was suspended from participating in the final World Cup races, ending the 2021/22 season early. He has not participated in international tournaments since then.
Former Norwegian skier expressed his hope For the Russians to return to international tournaments soon.
Source: Gazeta
Gregory Robert is a sports aficionado and a writer for “Social Bites”. He provides in-depth coverage of the latest sporting events and trends, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the world of sports.