Mass Media Overview
Ivan Skobrev wins European title
13.01.2011 13:24
http://sportnavigator.nl/
10.01.2011
Exactly ten years after Dimitri Shepel, Russia again has a European allround champion. In the Italian Collalbo Ivan Skobrev won the title and achieved his first major victory.
After winning his race over 10 km Ivan Skobrev fell on his knees and ended up stretched out on his stomach on the ice. The euphoria was great, for the 27-year-old Russian, in the past, success was often close, but he never won a real title. Of course he won Olympic silver and bronze in the 10,000 and 5,000 meters in Vancouver, but never a major title.
"But this is great'', Skobrev said afterwards. "It proves that I've made the right choices two years ago by working in Italy together with Maurizio Marchetto, and now with Kosta Poltavets. It's wonderful to win the first European title since Shepel.'' Skobrev realized that he could do best by the absence of Sven Kramer. "Of course he remains the best skater in the world. When he gets back, I'll fight him again, as I've done also in recent years. But at this moment I am just very happy''.
Skobrev won the title in style. He started his tournament with an excellent 500 meter in 36.67 and then won the 5000 meters in 6.30,01 on the first day. After a second place in the 1500 meter (1.52,52), the differences were small at the top. Skobrev had competition from the Dutch Jan Blokhuijsen and Koen Verweij and knew he had to skate a good 10 km. At first is seemed to go wrong at that distance, but Skobrev proved to be a great fighter. With an impressive acceleration, he won the distance (13.39,80) and European gold. "I had to skate faster, I had nothing to lose,'' said Skobrev laughing.