Ice Climbing World Cup 2017: Russians win it big in Beijing

The second stage of the Ice Climbing World Cup took place in China’s capital Beijing (Peking) last weekend and, as in the best traditions, was dominated by the Russian squad which managed to pluck all top podium places: Male and Female Lead, Male and Female Speed.

The Lead event unfolded on a completely ice-free structure where defending champion Maxim Tomilov from Russia failed to qualify for the final. In the decisive round his teammate Nikolai Kuzovlev climbed to the top with ease while Park HeeYong’s axe placement slipped a few moves below the top. The South Korean placed second ahead of rising Swiss star Yannick Glatthard. In the women's final Maria Tolokonina managed to beat Shin Woonseon, the winner of the first stage which had taken place in Durango, USA, last November, while Song Han Na Rai completed the podium.

The Speed competition took place of a huge drip of ice and in order to ensure a certain degree of equality the athletes faced each other first by climbing the left route, then the right, and vice versa. Once again Russia absolutely dominated this discipline and took all top spots: after two rounds Radomir Proshchenko beat Vladimir Kartashev by more than a second, while in the small final Nikolay Shved placed third after beating Nikolai Kuzovlev by nearly three seconds. In the women's competition Ekaterina Koshcheeva took advantage Maria Tolokonina’s slip by to win the stage, while Nadezhda Gallyamova beat beating Ekaterina Feoktistov in the small final to win bronze.

The next stage of the UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup Tour presented by The North Face Korea will take place in Cheongsong, Korea this weekend.

Women's Speed Final (Koshcheeva v Tolokonina) | Ice Climbing World Cup 2017 l Beijing


Men's Speed Final (Proshchenko v Kartashev) | Ice Climbing World Cup 2017 l Beijing


Nikolai Kuzovlev - Men's Lead Gold Medal Climb | Beijing


Maria Tolokonina - Women's Lead Gold Medal Climb | Beijing



Results
Men's Lead
1. Nikolai Kuzovlev, RUS
2. Park HeeYong, KOR
3. Yannick Glatthard, SUI
4. Noah Beek, CAN
5. Janez Svoljsak, SLO
6. Dmitriy Grebennikov, RUS
7. Alexey Dengin, RUS
8. Sergey Tarasov, RUS

Women's Lead
1. Maria Tolokonina, RUS
2. Shin Woonseon, KOR
3. Song Han Na Rai, KOR
4. Ekaterina Vlasova, RUS
5. Mariia Edler, RUS
6. Eimir Mc Swiggan, IRL
7. Angelika Rainer, ITA
8. Ineke Rhebergen, CAN

Women's Speed
1. Ekaterina Koshcheeva, RUS
2. Maria Tolokonina, RUS
3. Nadezhda Gallyamova, RUS
4. Ekaterina Feoktistova, RUS

Men's Speed
1. Radomir Proshchenko, RUS
2. Vladimir Kartashev, RUS
3. Nikolay Shved, RUS
4. Nikolai Kuzovlev, RUS