Source: http://www.alpfederation.ru


Marko de Gasperi on finish. Photo: Ilya Kazarinov, "Vertical World magazine"
Marko de Gasperi (Italy) and Oksana Stefanishina (Sochi) became the winners of high-speed run to the Elbrus Peak in "Sport" class. In amateur offset first place was won by Vladimir Belyay (Belarus) and Svetlana Malova (Saratov).

The record number of athletes took part in the most difficult stage of the Festival Red Fox Elbrus Race 2014. In "Sport" class 86 athletes have started from Azau glade , in "Classic" class from "Barrels" - 111 sportsmen. Gasperi who was already participant of the Festival two years ago, didn't expect that he will manage to win: "The beautiful and very difficult route, I knew what for me waits and prepared for Elbrus. I had to escape forward from the start, to show my skills. I know what a strong rival is Vitaly Shkel. I saw that Vitaly "gets" me and told myself "ok, give you will show on what you are capable". And I managed to keep advantage. But I'm not sure that it would turn out if we run to the peak. Probably, I am a lucky?"

Because of the hard weather conditions judges had to change rules of the run: skyrunners were turned back at the height of 5200 meters and the finish was on "Barrels". For Vitaly Shkel this factor played a key role that he didn't edge the rival - Gasperi: "It is a pity that peak closed. I almost caught up with Marko, but to struggle with him on descent is unreal".

Weather since a saddle was so bad that participants didn't regret when them turned back in spite of the fact that nobody prepared for downhill racing. However, this obstacle helped by some athletes to improve result. With a smile upon the face as though wasn't so tired, Oksana Stefanishina came running on the finish: "Super that the finish was below, was easily run, managed to have a rest. I thought that on descent there will be a fight, but it was succeeded to come off.".

The member of Russian skyrunning national team Nadezhda Korolyatina went the fourth, and on descent it managed to win back two places: "During the ascent I was very tired, but on descent thought that it is necessary to use every chance". As a result Nadezhda came the second.

RESULTS:

2014 Russian National Skyrunner Series®: Elbrus Vertical SkyMarathon®, 2350-5642 m. Sport class
Route: Glade Azau (2350 m) - Mir station (3450 m)- «Barrels» (3780 m) - Pastuhov Rocks (4800 m) - 5200 m - Pastuhov Rocks (4800 m) - «Barrels» (3780 m)

Men
1 . Marko de Gasperi (Italy) - 3:03:55
2 . Vitaly Shkel (Russia) - 3:04:59
3 . Sokolov Ivan (Russia) - 3:22:47

Women
1. Oksana Stefanishina - 4:32:28
2. Nadezhda Korolyatina - 4:36:11
3. Nadezhda Ermakova - 4:37:42

1st stage of the Russian Skyrunner Cup
Route: Glade Azau (2350 m) - Mir station (3450 m)- «Barrels» (3780 m) - Pastuhov Rocks (4800 m) - 5200 m - Pastuhov Rocks (4800 m) - «Barrels» (3780 m)

Men
1. Vitaly Shkel - 3:04:59
2. Ivan Sokolov - 3:22:47
3. Dmitry Belyaev - 3:42:24

Women
1. Oksana Stefanishina - 4:32:28
2. Nadezhda Korolyatina - 4:36:11
3. Nadezhda Ermakova - 4:37:42

Kabardino-Balkaria Open Skyrunner Championship. High-speed run to the West Elbrus Peak (3780-5642 m). Classic class
Route: «Barrels» (3780 m) - Pastuhov Rocks (4800 m) - 5200 m - «Barrels» (3780 m)

Men 1. Vladimir Belyay (Belarus) - 2:31:50
2. Denis Provalov (Moscow) - 2:35:45
3. Viktor Trikozov (Saint-Petersburg) - 2:40:14

Women
1. Malova Svetlana (Saratov region) - 3:28:05 2. Zinina Alla (Novgorod region) - 3:53:15 3. Safonova Irina (Moscow) - 4:20:50