December 11, 2013 (Canmore, AB) – Current world cross country champions Mikhalina Lysova, Roman Petushkov and Vladislav Lekomtcev have continued their great form in sprint classic races on day two of the 2013 IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup in Canmore, Canada.

Russia’s Lysova, 21, who picked up her second world title in the discipline at the 2013 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships in Solleftea, Sweden, added to a bronze medal from the first day of competition in Canmore in the middle distance visually impaired with guide Alexey Ivanov.

Mark Arendz (CAN) © Pam Doyle

Canada’s Mark Arendz had a strong start in the sprints. The 23-year-old, of Springton, P.E.I., led the world’s best around the rolling classic-ski sprint track at the Canmore Nordic Centre until the final climb where his podium hopes were dashed, and the 2010 Paralympian was forced to settle for fifth place in the men’s standing division.

“It was a solid result and it shows my fitness is there, but I just ran out of gas on that final climb and the guys closed the gap on me,” said Arendz. “I have to be happy today. My focus is on the biathlon races and these solid results in cross-country will help prepare myself for those events coming up.”

Russians Elena Remizova and Iulia Budaleeva could not keep up with the 21-year-old who finished ahead of silver medallist Remizova and Monday’s (10 December) middle distance winner Budaleeva.

Daniel Cnossen © Pam Doyle

In the men’s sprint classic sitting, 35-year-old Russian Petushkov looks to be the favourite to win at his home Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi in March, after returning to winning form following a disappointing seventh-place finish in the middle distance event on the first day.

While it seems like all his trails are paved with gold Petushkov takes nothing for granted:

“I never look for the easy way. All races are hard.”

World champion Petushkov led Irek Zaripov and 2013 World Championships bronze medallist Grigory Murygin. Murygin added the bronze to his gold from Monday.

ChrisKlebl © Pam Doyle

France’s firth placed entry Romaine Rosique joked about the wildlife on the course:

“It was a bit like skiing in a zoo today. There were elk just inside the forest.”

Officials were also seen chasing deer off the trail with sit-skiers fast approaching.

Leading the response to the Russian surge was Norwegian Mariann Marthinsen, doubling up on her middle distance gold with a win in the women’s sprint classic sitting.

Marthinsen, 29, was a prolific swimmer, winning a world title in the short course World Championships in 2009 and a string of silver and bronze medals dating back to 2006. The 29-year old beat Italian Francesca Porcellato who finished in second and Russia’s Svetlana Konovalova in third.

Tatyana McFadden (USA) © Pam Doyle

Two American summer sport athletes making their snow-covered debut performed well. Rower Oksana Masters just missed out another podium in fourth place, whilst wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden improved on her 11th place finish from day one in seventh.

Canada’s Stephanie Dixon, of Whitehorse, also qualified for the heats. In just her first season of Para-Nordic racing, Dixon was eliminated in the opening round and placed eighth. Tanya Quesnel, of Sudbury, Ont., was 12th.

The men’s visually impaired sprint races saw another set of Russians block out the podium, with Oleg Ponomarev completing the 1.25km course in first. Ponomarev and guide Andrei Romanov were unable to finish Monday’s middle distance 10km but went the distance in the sprint.

Ponomarev lead fellow Russians Vladimir Udaltcov and guide Ruslan Bogachev in second and Nicolay Polukhin with his guide Andrew Tokarev in third.

Canadian world champion Brian McKeever did not start the race, following the illness of guide Erik Carleton.

Russian Alena Kaufman was once again too hard to beat in the women’s standing class, claiming her second gold of the competition. Natalia Bratiuk of Russia thought she had a lock on second when Japan’s Ota Shoko drove from behind in the last few metres for second and Bratiuk had to settle for third.

Brittany Hudak © Pam Doyle

Brittany Hudak was the top Canadian woman in her first IPC World Cup. The Prince Albert, Sask. resident, who has been competing domestically over the last year, finished fourth.

Caroline Bisson © Pam Doyle

Russia’s Vladislav Lekomtcev and Fin Ilkka Tuomisto both skipped Monday’s opener but came on strong on Tuesday with first and second place finishes, respectively, in the men’s standing class race.

Finland’s only competitor in these events, Tuomisto was pleased with his day’s work:

“I am feeling very good. I won a medal in this race at Vancouver and I am looking for the same in Sochi.”

Thursday is his favourite race, the long distance classic. Meanwhile Rushan Minnegulov of Russia completed the men’s standing podium.

Cross-country competitions at the 2013 IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup conclude on Thursday (12 December) with the long distance events, following a training day on Wednesday (11 December).

Over 100 athletes from 12 countries will then compete in the biathlon events from 14-17 December.

Pictures are available on Flickr here and video highlights will be available everyday on YouTube here. Updates will also be posted to Twitter here and Facebook here.

Results here.