The Ugra Ski Marathon in Siberia on Saturday is the last race in the 2015 FIS Marathon Cup, and nothing is decided in the overall cup.
In the women’s field, it’s particularly tight. The top three racers prior to the Ugra Ski Marathon can all claim the overall 2015 FIS Marathon Cup title.
With one race to go in the 2015 FIS Marathon Cup, Holly Brooks of the USA has 455 points, while Estonia’s Tatiana Mannima has 451 points and Aurelie Dabudyk of France has 404 points. All three are on the start list, and all three has a shot at the overall trophy.
Complete women’s ranking prior to the final event
Complete start list for the women elite
Still open in the men’s overall
The Ugra Ski Marathon is not only the deciding event on the women’s side. Petr Novak of the Czech Republic has lead the FIS Marathon Cup with a comfortable margin for months and enters the Ugra Ski Marathon with 406 points, but the overall title is not in his pocket.
With 347 points, Benoit Cahuvet of France could snag the overall if he wins the Ugra Ski Marathon and Novak is not among the top five.
Sergio Bonaldi of Italy is in third place overall prior to the Ugra Ski Marathon, but with 229 points for the season, Bonaldi cannot threaten the top two, even if he were to win the Ugra Ski Marathon on Saturday.
Complete start list for the elite men
Overall men’s standings in the 2015 FIS Marathon Cup prior to the Ugra Ski Marathon
Waited a month for the last race
While the Engadin in Switzerland on March 9 was the last FIS Marathon Cup race prior to the final Ugra Ski Marathon in Khanty-Mansiisk in Siberia, the skiers have tried to stay race fresh both mentally and physically in the month between the two races.
Expecting more than 1200 skiers
Khanty-Mansiisk in Siberia, already a well-established venue on the biathlon World Cup, is new to the FIS Marathon Cup. Aside from the 50 k freestyle FIS Marathon Cup race, Ugra Ski Marathon also offers 25 k freestyle and 5 k freestyle events on Saturday, and the Ugra Ski Marathon organizers are expecting about 1200 participants total. The Ugra Ski Marathon is also the final event of the 2015 Euroloppet series.
The weather forecast is calling for temperatures around freezing on race day, but the forecast for tomorrow, Friday, is rain and 6 C/43 F, potentially serving up some interesting spring skiing conditions for the participants on Saturday.