CROSS-COUNTRY:

Canadian XC relay struggles to 18th in Sweden

Nov. 21, 2010 ― Cross Country Canada 

GÄLLIVARE, Sweden ― A disappointed Canadian men’s cross-country ski team will look to put the opening weekend of World Cup competition behind them after finishing 18th in a 4x10-kilometre relay in Gällivare, Sweden, on Sunday.

The team of George Grey, Devon Kershaw, Ivan Babikov and Alex Harvey finished with a time of 1 hour, 33 minutes, 39.8 seconds (1:33:39.8).

In the relay, teams of four athletes take turns racing 10 kilometres each, and then tag their teammate in an exchange zone after completion of their leg of the relay race. The first two skiers on each team use the classic technique, while the last two use the skate-ski discipline.

Sweden won back-to-back events in as many days on home snow after posting the top time of the day at 1:29:56.3. Russia was second with a time of 1:29:57.1, while Norway 1 clocked-in at 1:30:44.2 to grab third.

Canada’s World Cup squad will now head to Finland, where the World Cup continues next weekend.
   
Gaiazova wins race in Russia

Canadian Daria Gaiazova continued her excellent form this season, skiing to an 8-second victory over Russian Victoria Melina in Sunday's 5 km classic race in Rovaniemi. Svetlana Bochkareva was third and Chandra Crawford continued to perform well in classic distance events, finishing fifth, 33 seconds of the pace in a strong international field.



The men's race was won by Russian veteran Vasili Rotchev, and Frederic Touchette was the top Canadian in the 10 km classic event in 12th place, 45 seconds from the lead. Stefan Kuhn was 24th, Len Valjas 40th and Phil Widmer 46th.  S-Magazine

Gällivare, Sweden World Cup XC men's relay results
Top-5 Men and Canadian Results:
1. Sweden, 1:29:56.3; 2. Russia, 1:29:57.1; 3. Norway I, 1:30:44.2; 4. Switzerland, 1:31:00.4; 5. Russia II, 1:31:31.9.
Canadian Results:
18.    George Grey, Rossland, B.C., Devon Kershaw, Sudbury, Ont., Ivan Babikov, Canmore, Alta., Alex Harvey, St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que., 1:33:39.8.