Borodavko – about the prospects of Korostelev and Nepryaeva at the Tour de Ski: “An additional stage to prepare for the Olympics”

The coach of three-time Olympic champion Alexander Bolshunov, Yuri Borodavko, spoke about the prospects for the performance of Russian skiers Savely Korostelev and Daria Nepryaeva at the Tour de Ski.

The Tour de Ski will take place from December 28 to January 4.

— Are you planning to watch the Tour de Ski?

– As it turns out. If possible – of course.

— What prospects do you see for Korostelev and Nepryaeva?

— The most important thing is to adapt to the speeds at the World Cup stages. This race is an additional stage, additional time to gain speed, to prepare for the Olympics. Here the speed is higher, the structure of the snow is somewhat different, plus the competition itself, of course.

— What could Bolshunov claim in this stage race if he could compete there? Would it be possible to defeat Alexandra?

— All athletes who stand at the start have this opportunity. Therefore, to say that it would be possible to win is, of course, impossible. Moreover, four years have passed. I think the fight would have been difficult, there would have been chances, but to say unequivocally that he would have won… Maybe not,” Borodavko told Sport Day after Day.

Earlier, Korostelev and Nepryaeva at the World Cup in Davos won quotas to participate in the sprint, skiathlon, time trial and marathon at the Olympics in Italy. Nepryaeva was 39th in the sprint and 20th in the time trial, Korostelev took 52nd place in the sprint and 25th in the time trial.

The 2026 Olympics will take place from February 6 to 22 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.