The Cup of Russia in Downhill took place in Magnitogorsk almost immediately after the Cup of the Urals. The race attracted more than 120 strongest riders of Russia and the contest promised to be serious.

Nevertheless, the athlete of FORMAT Factory Team DH Anna Skumbina won and got the title of Champion of Russia for the fourth time in succession! 

Before the start

In the qualification chart Anna’s time was 4:04, thus she became an incontestable leader among girls. The lead with the second time was 24 seconds. «I was happy about the result. And immediately I set the goal - «to ride out of four»», –Аnnа comments on. «It was a kind of challenge for me: in 2013 I got an ankle joint injury and thus took only the third place. Now, after three years, I am on this track again...» The route of the Champoinship of Russia 2016 turned to be technically similar to that of the Championship in 2013. Just rocks at the beginning of the route became bigger, turns at the end were more complicated and turning to the road gap was more dangerous. The route was technically challenging, but Anna acted confidently during the race. 

«I felt neither tired nor stressed. Just carefulness at some moments. I knew well what the result of the falling here could be and I accelerated gradually, I tried and tested various courses, chose the best. Just to be sure I trained with strong riders», - Anna says.

On the way to the dream

Nevertheless, in the final race Anna’s start was not very smooth, she accelerated too much and risked to slip at the first running turn. But in several seconds she managed to control the route again and turned to her normal speed. 

She tells emotionally about the win: «I crossed the finishing line and turned to look at the display. The digits I saw «3:59» made me crazy and I whooped so that all the square chock-full of riders could hear: «Yeaaaaaaah!!!»»

Fourth year Anna Skombina shows the best time

As is well known, faith and support of relatives and friends mean much: «During ten days of riding and participating in two races I managed not to fall down, I was happy about that. I am very thankful to my mum for support; thanks to her as well I succeeded not only in defeating the competitors but in conquering myself, in «riding out of four». And many thanks to those who believe in me and support me! You make me be faster!»

The challenge was taken and the result was triumphant. For the fourth year in a row the rider of FORMAT Factory Team DH Anna Skumbina shows the best time and keeps the title of the fastest girl of the country in Downhill.

The podium

Thanks for the photo: Maxim Baranov, Dmitry Varganov and Andrew Rakowski.