Natalia Matveeva silver medalist of the World Cup stage in Lahti
Category: Russia
Natalia Matveeva
Last weekend in Lahti (Finland) took place cross-country World Cup stage. Skiers competed in 15 (10) km classic individuals and free style sprint races. Russian Ski Team sponsored by CRAFT Sportswear won in Finland one silver medal that was Natalia Matveeva, who finished second in that race.
In Saturday sprint races Natalia won her second podium of the World Cup stages this season, ahead of her was only Olympic champion of Torino Canadian Chandra Crawford. But Natalia beat such a sprint stars as Petra Majdic (SLO) and Marit Bjorgen (NOR). In the World Cup sprint overall Matveeva is now on the fourth place only about 30 points behind third place of Kuitunen (FIN). In mens sprint race best among Russians was Mikhail Devjatjarov, who finished 15th, and the winner was Norwegian Anders Gloersen, who also won World Cup stage in Rybinsk (Russia) this season. In classic individuals the fastest were World Cup overall leader Lucas Bauer (CZE) and Virpi Kuitunen (FIN). Best of Russians, both in mens and womens races, were only in the second dozen.