Athletes vied in three classes of bikes (Runabout 1200, Standart and Ski Division) and in three events-freestyle, circuits and slalom. The former two events were won, to the acclaim of local spectators, by Sochi dweller David Djagoniya. The 1980 Olympic track cycling champion Vladimir Osokin regained fame in emerging victorious in the Runabout class and leaving behind the favourite Vladimir Babenko. Standart circuits yielded victory to Vyacheslav Kolotovkin while the Junior Cup race revealed the superiority of Rodion Yashkov and Alexey Bykov.
The Sochi performance was a demonstration of high skills and techniques, said Sergey Lisitsyn, vice-president of the water motor-sport federation of Russia. In his opinion, Russian fans can pin justified hopes on top medals at the Moscow world championship this June-- not only in Freestyle (with the participation of Russian multi-time champion Anastasia Potanina) but also in the classes Runabout (Olga Podkhvatilina) and Ski Division (Irina Babenko).
Acqua bike history is yet very short in Russia, said Lisitsyn. With first starts merely in 2000, Russian riders have made an enormous progress, as noted by Sochi's chief referee Fabio Annigoni, Italy's famous bike rider in the past. What he saw in Sochi has impressed him as evidence of Russian racers' improved skills. They are likely to challenge world laurels, said Annigoni who will come to the Moscow championship as referee.
