Spring Marathon: will Nepryaev and Korostelev be able to take medals in Norway

Russian skiers Daria Nepryaeva and Savely Korostelev have only one international race left this season. On Saturday, March 14, they will take part in the 50 km mass start in Holmenkollen. After that, they will go to the final of the Russian Cup, and foreign skiers will fly to the final stage of the World Cup in the USA. Read more about the chances of our skiers in Norway in the Izvestia article.

The Holmenkollen Experiment

The Holmenkollen Marathon is an iconic race. For the first time, men ran 50 kilometers here back in 1888. Since then, skiers have been coming to Norway every year to test their strength. The marathon has been cancelled several times in its history. The reasons were related to force majeure circumstances.: World War II, stadium reconstruction, pandemic. The exception was last season. The FIS considered that it would be difficult for athletes to run 50 kilometers in Holmenkollen a week after the marathons at the World Championships in Trondheim.

Therefore, instead of the "fifty kopecks", the stage program included races with separate starts for 10 and 20 km, and the right to host the marathon was entrusted to the Finnish Lahti. The skiers did not appreciate such concern from the federation. Some called the FIS decision "idiotic" and demanded that the legendary race be returned to its homeland.

This season, the March marathon returned to Holmenkollen, but in an experimental format. Both the men's and women's races will be held on the same day. Yes, this had already happened before 2010. But now the competitions are planned to be combined: the men will start first, and after 45 minutes the women will enter the track. By this time, the guys should have already completed two out of six laps.

The men's favorites are the Norwegians, led by Johannes Klebo. Many consider former biathlete Einar Hedegaart to be his main rival. Last weekend, the newly crowned Olympic champion tried his hand at the 50 km in the Swiss Engadine, skipping the World Cup in Lahti, and won the Alpine race. Hedegaart is good at speed skating, and this season the Holmenkollen Marathon will be held in freestyle.

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The chances of Nepryaeva and Korostelev

Over the past four years, the Norwegians have not given away medals in the March marathon to anyone: they occupied the entire podium in Holmenkollen for three consecutive seasons and once in Lahti last year. But before the Russians were banned from international competitions, the picture was different. In two consecutive seasons, Alexander Bolshunov celebrated the victory. Moreover, in 2019, Maxim Vylegzhanin (silver) and Andrey Larkov (bronze) rose to the podium with him. Alexey Prokurov also won twice among Russians (1993, 1998), and Alexander Legkov became the first in 2013. Klebo has only one victory in Holmenkollen, in 2024. Of course, he won the marathon in March and last year, but that race was held in Lahti.

"The Norwegians look like favorites, there's no doubt about that," Olympic silver medalist Alexander Panzhinsky told Izvestia. — And not only Klebo, but also Hedegaart, who recently won the Engadine, the legendary marathon in Switzerland, on his first attempt. He looks very confident in skating this year. There are Martin Nyungat and others who want to prove themselves at the end of the season. Therefore, it will be difficult to oust the Norwegians from the podium. Nevertheless, the French have a chance, especially Mathis Delauge. He purposefully prepared for this marathon, missed several World Cup stages, and went to the mountains. Therefore, I think he is the only athlete who can dilute the Norwegian trio. Yes, Savely Korostelev is very well prepared, but in the skating marathon it is more difficult for him to show his maximum. Still, he's running a little more stable and confident in the classics this season. It will be difficult to get into the top 3, but Savely can fight for getting into the top 6.

The expert also highlighted the favorites in the women's marathon.

— Definitely Ebba Anderson as the Olympic champion in the marathon, Frida Karlsson, who may not be in such brilliant shape as at the Games, but at the stage in Lahti, speaking after an illness, has already won, — continued Alexander Panzhinsky. — Of course, Jessica Diggins, who is competing for the overall World Cup, is always good at speed skating. I think she's aiming to win the legendary Holmenkollen marathon at the end of her career. As far as I remember, she has no victories here. It can be an ornament to her great career. Perhaps we can also consider Teresa Stadlober, who is capable of surprising. And it seems to me that Dasha Nepryaeva can compete. She's in very good shape. She looked confident in the last few races. In my opinion, her chances of winning a marathon medal are even higher than Savely's.

The international season will close with a stage in the American Lake Placid (March 20-22), where there will be no Russians. In a conversation with the media, the president of the Russian Ski Federation, Elena Vyalbe, noted that a trip to the United States is too expensive, and since Korostelev and Nepryaeva are not fighting for victory in the overall World Cup standings, there is no point in it. Panzhinsky thinks otherwise.

— To be honest, after the stage in Lahti, I am more inclined to believe that Savely and Daria need to go to the final stage of the World Cup, — concluded the expert. — They are competitive, show high results. In such good shape, getting such an experience and the opportunity to compete for the top 3 at the World Cup is worth a lot. And this opportunity should not be thrown away. Probably, the decision was made in advance when it was necessary to apply for visas. It's a pity that the guys will use their uniforms at the Russian Cup final, and not at the World Cup.

The Russian Cup final will be held in Kirovsk from March 28 to April 5.