July 1, 2011 (Bessans, FRA) – Russians Elena Ektova and Igor Glushkov won the season opening 15km mass start free technique FIS Roller Ski World Cup races in Bessans (FRA) last weekend. On the sunny and warm opening day, Glushkov prevailed in the finishing straight over compatriot Alxeander Denisov while Elena Ektova beat runner-up and defending World Cup champion Guro Stroem Solli of Norway by 0.3 sec.

On the second day, French Cross-Country skiing ace Maurice Manificat dominated the 15km uphill skiathlon. The course climbed up to the famous mountain pass, Col de l’Iseran, where the athletes changed skis half-way up. The women’s 10km skiathlon  was won by Sweden’s Hanna Seppas who was even more dominating, beating runner-up Anouk Faivre Picon of France by 2:35.89 .

After two events, two Italians are in the overall lead of the men’s FIS Roller Ski World Cup 2011 – Sergio Bonaldi leads with 116 points over defending World Cup champion Simone Paredi. On the women’s side, Elena Ektova has collected 122 points and leads the series over France’s Anouk Faivre Picon by two points.