Canadian men’s cross-country ski team back on the World Cup podium
There are a few reasons for a spike in cross-country ski medals from Canada’s men, according to the team’s star.
Alex Harvey says peaking at the right time, ski management, a commitment to the relay and the suspension of some Russians from competition combined to produce two World Cup gold medals and a bronze over an eight-day span.
The 28-year-old from Saint-Ferreol-Les-Neiges, Que., and Toronto’s Lenny Valjas won team pursuit gold Jan. 15 in Italy followed by Harvey’s 15-kilometre victory and the 4-x-7.5k relay bronze a week later in Sweden.
Harvey, Valjas, veteran Devon Kershaw of Sudbury, Ont., and rookie Knute Johnsgaard of Whitehorse earned the first World Cup relay medal ever by Canadian men.