Andrea Eskau picks up second cross-country win

Germany's Eskau concludes the cross-country races with a clean-sweep as Ukraine begin to challenge the Russians at the IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup in Vuokatti, Finland. 10 Jan 2014

Montreal 2013 - Media Centre icon

ⒸNPC Brazil

By IPC

Eskau, a winner of two cross-country world titles last year in middle and long distance, is using a new sledge this season ahead of Sochi 2014, a move that does not appear to have troubled her as she stormed to victory in the women’s sitting event.

Germany’s Andrea Eskau secured her second win in as many days on Thursday (9 December) at the IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup in Vuokatti, Finland, as Ukraine challenged Russia’s dominance with victory in two of the six cross-country skiing short distance events.

Eskau, a winner of two cross-country world titles last year in middle and long distance, is using a new sledge this season ahead of Sochi 2014, a move that does not appear to have troubled her as she stormed to victory in the women’s sitting event.

The 43-year-old finished in 7:28.9, almost 10 seconds ahead of Russia’s Maria Iovleva (7:37.2), to add to her middle distance World Cup victory from Wednesday. Norway’s Mariann Marthinsen (7:44.5), who picked up three wins at the first World Cup of the season, was third.

In snowy conditions, Ukrainian Maksym Yarovyi (13:28.2) was victorious in the men’s sitting event over 5km, and was joined on the podium by Russia’s Aliaksandr Davidovich (13:48.0) and Japan’s Kozo Kubo (13:50.7).

In the women’s standing race, Ukrainian athletes Oleksandra Kononova (13:44.1) and Iuliia Batenkova (14:36.1) finishing in first and third place respectively. Splitting them was Russia’s Anna Milenina (14:20.6) in second.

Although Ukraine secured wins in two events on Thursday, the three other races of the day were dominated by Russia, with athletes from the Sochi 2014 host country claiming all the podium positions.

In one of the closest races – the women’s visually impaired, two world champions were separated by just 0.60 seconds. Long distance world champion Elena Remizova and guide Natalia Yakimova (13:36.1) took victory, fractionally ahead of sprint world champion Mikhalina Lysova and guide Alexey Ivanov (13:42.6). Iuliia Budaleeva and guide Tatiana Maltseva (14:09.7) were third.

In an exciting conclusion to the men’s standing race, Vancouver 2010 cross-country bronze medallist Vladimir Kononov (24.21.9) edged Rushan Minnegulov (24:28.6). Vladislav Lekomtcev, the cross-country sprint world champion, was third (24:39.7).

The visually impaired race was a mirror image of Wednesday’s middle distance podium. Stanislav Choklaev and guide Maksim Pirogov (24.42.0) were first ahead of six-time Paralympic medal winner Nikolay Polukhin, guided by Andrey Tokarev (24.59.3). Alexsander Artemov and guide Ilya Cherepanov (26:23.1) completed the podium.

The IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup continues in Vuokatti with short and pursuit biathlon races beginning on Saturday (11 December) through Sunday.

Results will be posted at IPC Nordic Skiing's calendar and results page.

Pictures will be available for download at the Paralympics Flickr account.