MINSK, 12 January (BelTA) – Belarusian skier Sergei Dolidovich finished eighth in the men's 15K Classical of the Eastern Europe Cup in Raubichi on 12 January, BelTA has learned.
Sergei Dolidovich covered the distance in 40:46.1. The race was won by Nikita Stupak of Russia in 39:01.3. The Russian athlete won in Raubichi last year as well. Second came in his Russian teammate Dmitry Yaparov, 39:07.1, a silver medalist in the 4x10km team relay at the Sochi Olympics. Bronze went to Russia's Alexei Vitsenko, 39:34.0.
The Women's 10K Classical in Raubichi is scheduled for 12 January. Competing alongside with cross country skiers from Russia and Belarus will be two-time Olympic champion Justyna Kowalczyk from Poland.
Attending the opening ceremony of the competitions on the first day of the Eastern Europe Cup in Raubichi was Minsk Oblast Governor Semyon Shapiro, First Deputy Sports and Tourism Minister Alexander Gagiyev, Chairman of the Belarusian Cross Country Skiing Union Sergei Teterin, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee Anatoly Kotov.
The Eastern Europe Cup (cross country skiing) has been regularly held since 2008. This season Raubichi is hosting the fourth leg, with three more slated for February 2017. The winners of the total standings will book place in the next season's Cross Country World Cup.
The Eastern Europe Cup in Raubichi was organized by the Sports and Tourism Ministry, the National Olympic Committee of Belarus, the Belarusian Skiing Union, the Belarusian Cross Country Skiing Federation, Minsk Oblast Executive Committee and Minsk City Hall.
