Alex Harvey finished up a historic world championships in Falun, Sweden on Sunday (Mar. 1) as the final podium spot just slipped through the Canadian's fingers.
Alex Harvey finished up a historic world championships in Falun, Sweden on Sunday (Mar. 1) as the final podium spot just slipped through the Canadian's fingers.
The cross-country ski connoisseur placed fifth in the men's 50-kilometre classic ski marathon – just missing the podium for the third time at the world championships after becoming the first Canadian to win two medals at the event a week prior.
“I felt good on the skis and I didn't want (Johan) Olsson to break away,” Harvey said. “I used a lot of energy going with him and I should have read the situation better. I used up way too much energy early on and paid for it in the end.”
The 26-year-old used all the gas in the tank to clock in at 2:26:08.1, and finished just four seconds back of a bronze. Norway's Petter Northug took gold with a time of 2:26:02.1. Lukas Bauer, of the Czech Republic, was second at 2:26:03.8, while Sweden's Olsson held on for the bronze with a time of 2:26:04.1.
The next Canadian to cross the finish line was Fort McMurray's Graeme Killick in 19th and Canmore's Ivan Babikov placed 30th.
Harvey was a contender for a medal throughout the entire race, but his blunder in burning too much energy to soon didn't agree with his body at the photo finish.
“I knew Olsson was feeling good and wanted to get away, but there was no point in trying to prevent that,” Harvey said. “The downhills were just too slow and there was no way anyone was getting away today. I made the mistake in using energy going with him.
“The snow kept it close and it was an exciting finish. I just had nothing left to move in the end.”
Harvey, from St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., was the first Canadian male in history to win a pair of medals at the world championships this past February. Harvey claimed silver in the classic sprint and bronze in the 30-km skiathlon. Harvey has won four world championship medals in his career.
The top Canadian woman was 25-year-old Emily Nishikawa, who placed 32nd in the 30-km class-ski on Saturday (Feb. 28).
“This was one of my better 30 K races that I have had. Each one gets better and in that sense it was positive, but there is still lots of work to do to get the hang of racing the 30s because they are so hard,” said Nishikawa.
The cross-country Olympian clocked in at 1:33:28.2 in Falun.
“I've improved a ton this year so I'm taking a step in the right direction,” said Nishikawa. “My improvement has been huge since the last worlds so I have to be happy with things overall.”
