Klebl, Soule in middle distance cross-country hunt

he two will have to contend with the USA’s Oksana Masters, who won bronze in the event at Sochi 2014 and took her first podium Wednesday (28 January) in the sprint.

The final individual races of the 2015 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships in Cable, Wisconsin, USA, will take place on Saturday (31 January), and will see skiers compete for middle distance cross-country glory.

Canada’s Chris Klebl enters the men’s sitting as the Paralympic Champion from Sochi 2014. The man who finished second to Klebl, Ukraine’s Maksym Yarovyi, has already medalled twice this week, taking silver and gold respectively from his first two cross-country races.

But home favourite Andrew Soule, going for his fifth medal of the competition, will also be on the hunt for his latest podium.

Germany’s world champion Andrea Eskau will go in search of a sweep of the women’s sitting. Also landing herself on the podium twice is Norwegian Mariann Marthinsen, who claimed silver and bronze in her first two races.

The two will have to contend with the USA’s Oksana Masters, who won bronze in the event at Sochi 2014 and took her first podium Wednesday (28 January) in the sprint.

In the women’s visually impaired, Russia’s Elena Remizova and guide Maksim Pirogov will seek to earn their third cross-country medal of Cable 2015.

With a bronze in the long distance, Ukraine’s team of Olga Prylutska and guide Borys Babar will be amongst the favourites to return to the podium again.

France’s Thomas Clarion, guided by Julien Bourla, will look to add to their silver medal from the men’s visually impaired.

Norweigan duo Eirik Bye and guide Kristian Myhre Hellerud already have a Paralympic bronze medal to their name and could surprise some with a strong result as they continue on their road to the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

France’s Benjamin Daviet has taken back-to-back silver medals in the men’s standing races and could factor again in the middle distance.

Fin Ilkka Tuomisto won silver in the event at Sochi 2014 and will have his last chance at an individual medal before the relays take place on Sunday (1 February).

Russia’s Ekaterina Rumyantseva has a bronze medal to her name in the women’s cross-country standing races so far at Cable 2015 and will aim to prevent Ukraine’s Oleksandra Kononova from reaching the top of the podium for a third straight time.

Competition concludes on Sunday with the cross-country relays.

Races start at 10:00 (CST) every day. Live results will be available at www.cable2015.com as well as a livestream.

Low resolution pictures will be available at the IPC's Flickr account and high resolution versions are available on request via ipc.media@paralympic.org.