SYKTYVKAR, Mar 27 Russian skier Natalia Nepryaeva wins the skiathlon championship Russia in Syktyvkar. The Olympic champion covered the 15-kilometer distance in 42 minutes 37.5 seconds. Ekaterina Smirnova was second (4.4 seconds back), Anastasia Rygalina was third (+24.3). Elizaveta Shalaboda (+28.3) finished fourth, Maria Istomina was fifth (+36.5), Alisa Zhambalova — eighth (+1.17.3). Skiathlon is a discipline that includes the passage of the first half of the route in the classical style, the second — in the free style. After the first half of the race, the athletes change their skis.
