From July 2-6, Izhevsk hosted the Russian Road Cycling Cup, with races held alternately at two venues: the biathlon complex of the Olympic Reserve Sports School named after Major General Alexander Demidov and the Galina Kulakova Sports and Recreation Ski Complex. The event brought together 17 participants from four regions: Moscow, Kursk, Samara, and Sverdlovsk.

Athletes competed in four disciplines: the 1000-meter sprint, a 27 km time trial, a 100 km group race, and a 60 km criterium. While the winners of the first three events were determined by the fastest finish, the criterium followed a points-based system. Riders earned points at intermediate finishes after completing designated laps: 5 points for first, 3 for second, and 2 for third. The overall winner was the cyclist who accumulated the most points — even if they didn’t cross the final line first.

Nature tested the competitors’ resilience, serving up ever-changing conditions — from heavy rain to bright sunshine.

Results Overview

Valery Kobzarenko, senior coach of the Russian national road cycling team, shared his thoughts:

“This is the second time we’ve held the Russian Cup in Izhevsk, and I’m very pleased with the terrain — it’s challenging yet safe for the riders. The competition has also revealed promising young talent, giving us a chance to scout for the national team. One standout is Kirill Krivov, an 18-year-old from Sverdlovsk, who shows great potential.

This year, I wanted to increase the difficulty by using two different venues. It was a good test of the riders’ adaptability, both technically and physically.”

PHOTO ALBUM

Text: Sofia Rumyantseva, Nurlan Tazhigulov

Photo: Maria Zagrebina

Translation: Daria Kudelina