Second Leaders Incident
During the semifinals of the fifth stage of the Cup of Russia in Krasnogorsk, the freestyle sprint featured a tense battle for position between Alexander Bolshunov and Sergey Ustyugov. As they approached a turn, contact occurred and both skiers toppled to the ice during the struggle for dominance.
Bolshunov appeared to hold a slight edge at that moment, but the margin was razor-thin. The clash in the tight exchange sent both athletes to the ground, altering the race trajectory for both competitors.
Recovery was swift for some but not instant for all. Ustyugov scanned the scene toward Bolshunov who was regaining balance, then pushed onward to reach the finish line. Bolshunov faced a longer path but eventually finished, showing the crowd that he remained capable of competing at a high level despite the fall.
In the aftermath, Bolshunov sustained a cut to the bridge of the nose from the impact. He later described the moment and the duration of his temporary loss of consciousness, providing insight into the physical toll of the incident.
First meeting
The latest clash appeared to extend a contentious episode that unfolded two days earlier near the finish line when Bolshunov and Ustyugov collided. That earlier incident left Ustyugov off balance and deprived him of a potential win and a medal, finishing fifth overall. Bolshunov completed the race but allowed Alexander Terentyev to take second place.
The two leading figures in Russian skiing showed clear frustration after the events. The federation’s jury reviewed the situation and found Bolshunov at fault, issuing a warning and a yellow card. In a surprising twist, Terentyev won the freestyle sprint, while Fedor Nazarov claimed silver in the dramatic semifinal round.
Who said what
Both athletes shared their perspectives on the second incident. Bolshunov spoke with a wounded tone, reflecting on the collision and the sequence of events on the descent.
Bolshunov described the moment when he broke away first, then felt pressure as Ustyugov sought to pass on the left. He stated that the contact occurred as Ustyugov attempted to push with his skis, leading to Bolshunov falling. He admitted a brief loss of consciousness due to the impact but noted a quick return to form and a finish that demonstrated resilience.
Ustyugov offered a different view, emphasizing that he attempted to race within the rules. He described taking a wide turn with a large radius and trying to help Bolshunov by widening his path, but a misalignment led to the collision. He questioned whether the episode involved issues with skis or boots and stressed that the crash happened so fast that a replay would be needed for full clarity. He insisted the incident was not intentional and expressed a desire to keep competing within the rules, hoping for a fair assessment by the judges.
Both sides acknowledged the rapid sequence of events and the need to review the incident. The discussion focused on whether the collision resulted from miscommunication, equipment, or the terrain, with each athlete defending their approach and intent.
Race event
The referees acted promptly, convening to analyze the crash footage and determine responsibility. The incident was treated as a work-related collision with no clear verdict of guilt for either participant. Bolshunov received a card, while the overall assessment leaned toward recognizing an unfortunate collision resulting from the dynamics of the race and the actions of both competitors.
According to the technical delegate of the Russian Ski Racing Federation, the fall was reviewed in detail and understood as a common incident arising from the interplay of rapid turns and aggressive racing tactics. The analysis underscored that both athletes were contesting a tight space on the course, making contact almost inevitable in a high-pressure sprint setting.