Chinese athletes Cidan Yuzhen and Buluer claimed 10th place in the mixed relay event at the ISMF Ski Mountaineering World Cup in Spain's Boi Taull on Sunday, marking a crucial milestone in their preparation for the upcoming Milano Cortina Winter Olympics this February.
The competition served as the final pre-Olympic test for the Chinese team, with two pairs representing the Chinese mainland. While Cidan and Buluer secured a top-10 position, teammates Zhang Chenghao and Suolang Quzhen finished 19th in the technical event requiring alternating male-female participation.
French champions Thibault Anselmet and Emily Harrop dominated the podium, followed by Spanish silver medalists Oriol Cardona Coll and Ana Alonso Rodriguez. Swiss athletes Jon Kistler and Marianne Fatton completed the top three.
This World Cup event gains particular significance as ski mountaineering returns to Olympic competition after a 78-year hiatus, making its Milano Cortina debut as the sole new Winter Games discipline. The Chinese team's performance demonstrates growing competitiveness in this endurance sport combining alpine skiing and mountain running.
