November 06, 2010 (Rybinsk, Russia) – The FIS XC ski season officially kicked off today in Rybinsk with an all-Russian field. Skiers tested their sprinting legs in the 1.4/1.7km classic sprints in temperatures of 3 degrees Celsius under cloudy skies, which became windy and rainy near the end of the race. The races were held on man-made snow due to lack of early-season snowfall. Olympic classic sprint gold medalist Nikita Kriukov won the men’s race while Natalia Korosteleva took the women’s sprint win.

Web cam view HERE

Women’s 1.4 km Classic Sprint Qualifications HERE.
Men’s 1.7 km Classic Sprint Qualifications HERE.

Women’s Final Results HERE.
Men’s Final Results HERE.

Finals

Women
1. Natalia Korosteleva (RUS)
2. Jana Janovskaja (RUS)
3. Maria Davydenkova (RUS)

Men
1. Nikita Kriukov (RUS)
2. Alexander Panzhinskiy (RUS)
3. Andrey Parfenov (RUS)

Qualifications

Women
1. Natalia Korosteleva (RUS) 3:29.52
2. Maria Davydenkova (RUS) 3:35.29
3. Daria Godovanichenko (RUS) 3:36.24

Men
1. Alexander Panzhinskiy (RUS) 2:49.31
2. Nikita Kriukov (RUS) 2:49.64
3. Egor Sorin (RUS) 2:49.87