December 15, 2004 – Canada’s Sara Renner and George Grey suffered to find their top form during a World Cup cross-country skiing sprint, finishing 22nd and 46th respectively, in Asiago, Italy on Tuesday.

Renner of Canmore, Alta., who has been steadily improving on the World Cup since her arrival in Europe nearly two months ago, managed to squeak her way into the top-30 athletes that qualified for the head-to-head heats, but was quickly eliminated.

“I had noodle legs and absolutely nothing in them. It was definitely a sufferfest today,” said the two-time Olympian, who will spend the rest of the day with husband, and Canadian alpine skier Thomas Grandi, who is competing in Europe this week as well. “The bad races are the ones you learn from, and I think this is just the end of a long stint in Europe, but it will get better.”

Renner qualified 18th with a time of two minutes 51.52 seconds on the 1.2-kilometre track laid out in a rolling green Italian pasture. Truckloads of snow were brought in to create the World Cup course as temperatures throughout the day climb to 15 degrees above zero.

The five heats opened with six athletes in each heat, with the top-two athletes in each heat moving onto the next round. The semi-finals and finals pit the top-four athletes battling it out for the finish.

Renner was eliminated in her opening heat after she crossed the line fourth.

Canada’s lone male cross-country skier racing in Europe before the holidays, George Grey, continued a difficult learning curve in Italy, failing to move into the round of 30 after he qualified with a time of 2:31.80, leaving him in a tie for 46th spot. The Rossland, B.C. native is forging through his first full stint on the World Cup.

“I just have to keep telling myself there will be better times ahead and I need to reinforce things that have gone well in the past,” said the 25-year-old World Cup rookie, and leader of a young and talented group of Canadian men ready to make their tracks on the premiere international racing circuit. “This is a great experience for me though to understand what a full World Cup season is all about. These are big fields, and these guys come out gunning all the time. I know I am learning from this.”

Norway dominated the podium in both men’s and women’s action. Overall World Cup leader, Marit Bjoergen proved unstoppable, taking her third consecutive victory in the women’s competition, while compatriot, Jens Arne Svartedal, captured the men’s title.

Finland’s Virpi Kuitunen took home the silver medal in the women’s event, while Norway’s Ella Gjoemle rounded out the top three. Norway’s Tor Arne Hetland sprinted to the silver medal position in the men’s race, while Sweden’s Bjoern Lind prevented the Norwegian sweep finishing third.

Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada. Its 45,000 members are athletes, coaches and officials, including members of the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team and Canadian Disabled Cross-Country Ski Team. Cross-country skiing is Canada’s optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually.