Trophee Eric Bompard 2014 - Pairs' Short Programme

There wasn't a lot of groundbreaking action in the pairs' events at this Grand Prix, and the spell is unlikely to be broken in Bordeaux. Stolbova & Klimov have virtually no rivals, while the second and third places will certainly be occupied by someone who's never been on the Eric Bompard podium. But who exactly?

Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro start the competition with a visibly shakier Cell Block Tango than at Skate Canada. She falls on the thrown triple Loop, and he struggles with the exit of the second lift. Their score: 51.07.

Xuehan Wang/Lei Wang's theme couldn't be vaguer. Their song title simply says: Romance. Overall, they are however better than the Americans because they have no technical errors. They get 63.25 points.

Stolbova & Klimov's death spiral
Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images Europe
Miriam Ziegler/Severin Kiefer's C'est pas l'amour and Zydeko couldn't be more appropriate for a French crowd.Theirs is not the best of presentations though, and the side-by-side spins are not in sync. Their score: 50.01.

When you skate on a fairytale, you have a responsibility to create a magical atmosphere. Nicole della Monica/Matteo Guarise's Cinderella isn't quite there, but comes decently close. They get  points.
53.34

Wenjing Sui/Cong Han's Stray Cat Strut is as fun as promised, and their elements rise to the presentation - my favourite is the triple twist with one hand aloft. Their score: 67.27.

Given that Vanessa James/Morgan Cipres are the only French pair competing here, I'm disappointed by the low number of supporters in the stands. That being said, they don't have the best of days as she falls on the side-by-side triple Toeloops, and they lose unison in the side-by-side spins. They get 54.20 points.

A far better tango routine from Alexa Scimeca/Chris Knierim than from the French. The choreography is very clever, the music building to every element as if it were composed for the programme, not vice-versa. Technically, she falls on the side-by-side triple Salchow. Their score: 59.04.

I will never get tired of Ksenia Stolbova/Fedor Klimov's Hidden Dragon, Crouching Tiger routine. This is only its second outing and it already looks fault-proof. They get 71.20 points.

Stolbova and Klimov waste no time in taking the lead, with Sui and Han on second and the Wans on third.

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