Chinese Team dominates as the Para Cross-Country World Cup kicks off in Vuokatti

The 2024/25 Para Cross-Country World Cup season began in the northern town of Vuokatti, Finland, with an action-packed program featuring a Sprint Classic and two 10km races: one in interval starts and the other as a mass start. The return of the Chinese team to the circuit made a significant impact, as they secured podium finishes in five out of the six categories straight from the first race on Tuesday.

A Sprint Classic full of highlights

In the visually impaired (VI) categories, the Chinese duo Yue Wang and her guide Hang Liu clinched victory in the women’s race, while Shuang Yu and his guide Wang Guanyu triumphed in the men’s event. Shiyu Wang added another gold for China in the women’s sitting category, and Zixu Liu and Mengtao Liu claimed second and third places respectively in the men’s sitting category. Brazilian sprint specialist Cristian Westemaier Ribera took the top spot in that race, preventing a clean sweep by China.

Norwegian multiple Word Champion Vilde Nilsen and Canada’s multiple Paralympic Champion Natalie Wilkie stood firm against the Chinese challenge in the women’s standing category, where Zhiqing Zhao finished third. Meanwhile, Germany’s Sebastian Marburger topped the men’s standing podium, flanked by France’s Benjamin Daviet in second and Canada’s Mark Arendz in third.

Distance races showcase depth of talent

After a rest day, the competition resumed with the longer-distance interval-start races. In the men’s standing category, Mingyang Qiu, Chenyang Wang, and Jiayun Cai achieved a Chinese sweep of the podium. Zheng Peng secured another victory for China in the men’s sitting category, ahead of Cristian Westemaier Ribera and fellow Chinese athlete Zhongwu Mao.

The men’s VI race saw a European clean sweep, with Sweden’s Zebastian Modin, guided by Emil Joensson, taking gold. Ukraine’s Oleksandr Kazik and his guide Serhii Kucherlavyi claimed silver, while Finland’s local hero Inkki Inola and his guide Arttu Kaario delighted the home crowd with bronze.

In the women’s sitting category, Yuxin Zhai led the field, with the USA’s Kendall Gretsch sandwiched between Chinese athletes, finishing second behind Zhai and ahead of third-placed Shiyu Wang. Vilde Nilsen and Yue Wang, alongside her guide Hang Liu, claimed victories in the women’s standing and women’s VI categories, respectively.

Thrills and drama in the mass start

The mass-start races delivered intense battles, none more so than in the men’s sitting category, where just three seconds separated the top three athletes. Cristian Westemaier Ribera took gold, narrowly edging out Zheng Peng and Zhongwu Mao.

In the women’s standing category, Natalie Wilkie captured her first victory of the season, finishing just eight seconds ahead of Vilde Nilsen. Germany’s Anja Wicker relied on her experience to claim victory in the women’s sitting category, with South Korea’s Yunji Kim taking silver and Kendall Gretsch finishing third.

The women’s VI category saw Yue Wang and her guide Hang Liu dominate again, while German pairs Leonie Maria Walter, guided by Christian Krasman, and Johanna Recktenwald, guided by Nils Kolb, completed the podium.

Zebastian Modin and Emil Joensson claimed another gold in the men’s VI category, with France’s Anthony Chalencon and his guide Florian Michelon taking silver, and Inkki Inola and Arttu Kaario earning their second bronze of the event.

The men’s standing category saw another Chinese double, with Chenyang Wang and Xiaobin Liu taking gold and silver, respectively, while Canada’s Mark Arendz secured bronze.

Looking ahead

After an exhilarating start in Vuokatti, the Para Cross-Country World Cup will pause for over a month before resuming in Val di Fiemme, Italy, on 1 and 2 February 2025. The anticipation is already building for the next chapter in this thrilling season.