By Johan Trygg
Ermil Vokuev, Russian Winter Team, won La Venosta after an impressive performance in season X.
In season XI we probably won’t see him in Visma Ski Classics in the beginning of the season – he aims for the Russian national team for the World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany.
Then he will return to Visma Ski Classics in his favorite race – Birkebeinerrennet.
“I like to prove that my victory at La Venosta was not a one-time thing,” says Vokuev.
The 28-year-old Russian Winter Team Pro athlete Vokuev has done good performances since he started to attend some Visma Ski Classics races back in 2017. At his first attempt in Jizerska Padesatka 2017, he was 4th. He has also been 4th in Kaiser Maximilian Lauf and Birkebeinerrennet, both in 2018.
In total, he has been top ten seven times in the Pro Tour. For example, he was 7th in Marcialonga 2018 and Ylläs-Levi in 2019.
In the first edition of La Venosta, December 14, 2019, he got his first victory. Vokuev was strong in the final short climb to the finish and crossed the finish line three seconds ahead of Petter Eliassen.
“My plans for season XI are to be at the top in the races I will attend. I like to show that my victory at La Venosta was not a one-time thing,” says Vokuev and continues;
“I plan to join my Pro Team for the spring events. I want to attend my favorite race – Birkebeinerrennet.”
He will first try to be part of the Russian national team for the World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf. Last winter, he was 22nd in the Skiathlon at World Cup in Oberstdorf and 23rd in 50 km in Oslo.
“For three years, I have fought for a personal goal, combining racing in Visma Ski Classics and World Cup and try to qualify for the World Championships,” says Vokuev.
Cross country skiing has always been his sport of choice.
“All my past is on skis. Since childhood, there was no other sport, only skis,” he says.
You switch between World Cup and Ski Classics. What’s the most fun?
“Both arenas have their atmosphere and give different emotions.”
How has the training gone this summer and autumn?
“As before, I devote little time to double poling, about 20-30 % of the training plan. The training has gone well with no injuries. There is so change in my training plan. Unfortunately, I failed to connect to the Russian Winter Teams training camps. But I think the guys are well prepared.”
What is the best thing about being part of the Russian Winter Team?
“In a team, the best is the attitude of the management towards athletes. And the atmosphere in the team,” Vokuev ends.
Vokuev on his way to victory in La Venosta followed by Max Novak, Marcus Johansson and Tord Asle Gjerdalen.
