Ski Tour Canada: Alex Harvey sprints to World Cup silver in Quebec City
Feature photo: Alex Harvey reacts to his second place finish in the men’s 1.7 km sprint at the FIS World Cup in Quebec City on March 4, 2016. (Jacques Boissinot)
Alex Harvey raced to a World Cup silver on home soil in the men’s freestyle sprint at the Ski Tour Canada stop in Québec City on Friday.
The two-time Olympian, ranked 14th in the overall FIS cross-country World Cup standings, won Canada’s first medal of the Tour. The Canadian raced a smart and tactical final, drafting off his opponents before he attacked on the final hill. Harvey’s impressive final surge placed him second in the men’s 1.7 km sprint, between Baptiste Gros of France and Russia’s Sergey Ustiugov.
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Alex Harvey, left, after winning silver in the men’s 1.7 km sprint at the FIS World Cup In Quebec City on March 4, 2016. (Jacques Boissinot)
This was the Canadian’s third event on the eight-race Ski Tour Canada. Harvey was determined to earn a spot on the podium following his 11th place finish in men’s classical sprint on Tuesday and ninth place performance in men’s mass start on Wednesday.
Related: Harvey wins World Cup silver in Finland
“I had dreams of a podium finish here when I first heard we’d be hosting a Tour in Canada,” said Harvey to Cross-Country Canada. “The crowd got louder and louder all day long every time my name was called. The noise gave me wings today and I felt like I was just floating down the trail.”
Harvey racing to a World Cup silver in men’s sprint in Quebec on March 4, 2016. (Photo Credits: NordicFocus/Felgenhauer)
Harvey has a history of excelling on home soil. His first World Cup medal came on Canadian snow, when he raced to a bronze in team sprint with George Grey at the Whistler Olympic Park in 2009. The Canadian now has 17 career World Cup medals and four world championship podium finishes.
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Harvey will have one more opportunity to win a medal on the stop closest to his hometown of Saint Ferreol les Neiges, Quebec in men’s pursuit on Saturday.
Skiers will head to Canmore, Alberta on Wednesday for the final leg of the four city tour.
