The dance competition will open the 2013 European championships on Wednesday 23rd January.
Defending Champions Pechalat/Bourzat of France will likely repeat the result of 2011 and 2012 getting their third title. They are currently the third ice team in the world, behind Davis/White and Virtue/Moir who will defend their national titles in this two weeks, and they are unbeated by any European couple since Worlds 2010.
EDITED: as Tatjana Flade reports, Pechalat/Bourzat have withdrawn due to a Fabian's injury. He caused a rupture of adductor in his right leg. Wish him a speedy recovery!
EDITED: as Tatjana Flade reports, Pechalat/Bourzat have withdrawn due to a Fabian's injury. He caused a rupture of adductor in his right leg. Wish him a speedy recovery!
Instead, the battle for the other medals is wide open. Two Russian teams could fight for a podium position. Bobrova/Soloviev, the 2011 and 2012 European silver medalists made an impressive improvement this year showing off a new fresh style in their always technically solid skating. Confirming their winning streak, they have won their third national title in late December ahead of Ilinykh/Katsalapov who may want to improve their last year's bronze medal at European Championships.
Ilinykh/Katsalapov, coached by Morozov, didn't have their smartest competitions during this fall, doing mistakes here and there, yet medalling at both of their grand prix assignments. They haven't completely delivered their short dance yet and the free isn't loved by anybody, but the team is well known for being more consistant in the second half of the season and will surely be in the game for a medal finish.
Talking about improvements, Italy's Cappellini/Lanotte have brought their technique on another level under the coaching of Igor Shpilband. The team has been very strong in this season so far, being the only one to get level 4s in both Polka sequences in the same short dance. As they medaled twice in the grand prixs and got a fourth place in the final, just behind Pechalat/Bourzat, Cappellini/Lanotte will fight for their first European medal.
PODIUM PICKS
Gold: Pechalat/Bourzat (FRA)
Silver: Bobrova/Soloviev (RUS)
Bronze: Cappellini/Lanotte (ITA)
See: Short dance season best scores
Free dance season best scores
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