VAL DI FIEMME (Italy), Jan 3, Sergey Fuchs. Russian skier Natalya Nepryaeva told reporters that the first half of the distance of the victorious 10 km mass start in the classic style in the framework of the Tour de Ski, she simply tried to keep up with the group of leaders. style in Val di Fiemme (Italy). The athlete strengthened her lead in the overall standings before the final race. “This is a very happy place for me. I hope that it will continue to be so. It all started with the junior world championship in 2014. I don’t know how it works out on this track. Maybe it’s very good fit the height, the relief. I like how it works here. Today I endured the first two laps, I had a goal simply not to lag behind. Already on the third lap I felt confident and understood that I was unlikely to fall out of the group of leaders «, — said Nepryaeva. «I am satisfied with my state of health, it is working, my throat is gone. It is clear that day after day is not necessary. For example, I skated yesterday, it was very hard, I did not like my state of health, but today everything is different. In principle, we are with the coach planned that we are gaining shape as the season progresses, because you yourself understand what the goal is this year. And gradually we are being brought down, «she added. The final race — a 10 km freestyle mass start — will also be held on January 4 in wa l-di-fiemme. The Russians have never won a stage race; in 2021, the American Jessica Diggins won.
