CROSS-COUNTRY:
Canada's Kershaw snags 2nd in Tour de Ski's New Year's Day pursuit
OBERHOF, Germany — Canada’s Devon Kershaw had a perfect start to 2011, ringing in the new year with a silver medal in a 15-kilometre classic cross-country ski race in the second stage of the prestigious Tour de Ski in Oberhof, Germany, on Saturday.
With athletes starting time-behind the leaders of Friday’s opening prologue race, Kershaw clocked the fastest time of the day in the 15-kilometre race at 39 minutes, 56.3 seconds to finish on the silver step of the podium at 47 minutes, 48.6 seconds in the second of the eight-stage Tour de Ski held over 10 days.
“I am absolutely happy. That was one of the better races I have done, if not the best of my career,” said a beaming Kershaw while travelling seven hours on the bus to the next stop of the tour. “It means so much to me be to get back on the World Cup podium. I know I’m there and I believe I am one of the best skiers in the world when things come together. I had some really good fourth- and fifth-place results last year, but this is pretty cool. It is a relief really.”
Disappointed with his opening race, Kershaw wasted no time reeling in the pack from his start position in 37th place. The 28-year-old made up the 32-second gap on the leaders in the first five kilometres. The leader of the men’s team settled in with the pack until the final two kilometres, where the two-time Olympian picked up the pace and made a break on the field. But his quest for the podium came down to a 100-metre sprint with Switzerland’s Dario Cologna and Russia’s Alexander Legkov.
“It has been hammered into me for so long to be patient and don’t go crazy,” said Kershaw. “The men’s races are quite tactical. I got to the front today and said there is no way I’m going to let people back in.”
When the dust finally settled after the thrilling sprint to the line, Cologna edged Kershaw to win the second stage with a time a time of 47:48.1, while Legkov wrapped up the bronze medal with a time of 47:48.9.
One of the most successful Canadian men’s cross-country skiers ever, Kershaw earned the fourth World Cup podium of his nine-year career. Kershaw, who pulled the nation out of their seats when he finished fractions of a second off the podium in fourth spot in the 50-kilometre feature event at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, has had some success on the Oberhof track, which suits his racing strengths with long climbs and lots of gliding.
His last World Cup podium came in 2009 when he won the bronze in the 15-kilometre classic ski race at the Tour de Ski in Oberhof. He also has a bronze (Munich, Germany) and a silver medal (Borlaenge, Sweden) to his credit, which he won in 2006.
“I don’t think it is so much the course here as it is the type of race that I enjoy,” said Kershaw. “I enjoy the pursuit. There is lots of action and bodies everywhere. Classic skiing is my strength and I just really enjoy the way this race plays out. It is hard to get back on the podium. A lot of people have been supporting me and they played a big part of this today.”
The Canadian flag was highlighted in the top 10 of the Tour de Ski after another strong day for Canada’s 22-year-old Alex Harvey. The St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que. native, who led the Canucks on Friday with an 18th-place finish, also made up considerable time on the field while posting the eighth-fastest time on Saturday to sit in ninth spot overall at 47:57.2.
Canada’s Ivan Babikov also made up 13 spots on the field Saturday. Thriving on the longer and more difficult races, the two-time Olympian finished in 32nd spot at 48:37.2.
“I may have finished second today, but it was such a great day for our entire team,” added Kershaw, who credits the support of coaches and the team’s wax technicians for the podium result. “Alex is only 22 and he finished in the top 10. When I was 22, I would have been happy to finish 22nd. It is amazing what he is doing, and with Ivan you know the results are going to come because he is so strong.”
No Canadian women are entered in this year’s Tour de Ski.
Modeled after the Tour de France in cycling, the Tour de Ski is an epic 10-day journey, which has the world’s best cross-country ski athletes racing eight times on five venues in two countries to determine the king and queen of Nordic skiing.
“This thing is long. It’s a long haul. It’s legit and it is hard,” said Kershaw. “I know I’ll celebrate when I get home with my friends, but right now, you can’t get to down over a bad race or to excited with a podium. Tomorrow is a new day and you have to find a way to be ready.”
Kershaw and his Canadian mates will head back into battle on Sunday when the tour arrives in Oberstdorf, Germany, for a classic-sprint race for the third stage. S-Magazine
Tour de Ski Day 2 results
Top-5 Men and Canadian Results:
1. Dario Cologna, SUI, 47:48.1; 2. Devon Kershaw, Sudbury, Ont., CAN, 47:48.6; 3. Alexander Legkov, RUS, 47:48.9; 4. LLia Chernousov, RUS, 47:52.3; 5. Petter Northug Jr., NOR, 47:53.5.
Canadian Results:
9. Alex Harvey, St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que., 47:57.2; 32. Ivan Babikov, Canmore, Alta., 48:37.2
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