January 01, 2013 (Val Mustair, Switzerland) – Canada’s Len Valjas delivered New Year’s greetings of the best kind bringing home the team’s first podium of the season, a bronze medal in the men’s 1.4km FR sprint on Stage 3 at the Tour de Ski’s new venue in Val Mustair, Switzerland home of Dario Cologna. To the dismay of local fans the Swiss star went down on the final climb as Valjas passed him while they were chasing down Norway’s Finn Haagen Krogh who took the win and Italy’s Federico Pellegrino, who captured the silver.

“I felt good out there and was happy with my day and that everyone else on the team had a good day too,” said Valjas in a post-race conference call. “I liked the course and the venue and we were anticipating the first podium and now we can all build off of it.”

The USA’s Andy Newell looked strong as well topping the North Americans in the qualifications in 8th and was leading his quarter final heat until the finishing straight when he was passed by Canada’s Valjas and Alex Harvey. But their heat was the fastest so he and Harvey made the semis as lucky losers.

Fellow Canuck Devon Kershaw looked to be in the groove as well but finished third behind Sweden’s Marcus Hellner and Emil Joensson and was out. Swedish fans were on the edge of their seats as Joensson took a spill near the end of the first lap but recovered to catch back on and claim second in a phenomenal display of sprinting prowess.

Valjas skied well in his semi to place third behind Cologna and Italy’s Federico Pellegrino advancing to the final as a lucky loser along with Krogh, but Newell seemed to lag during the heat and finished 5th – and was out. Harvey had a tough time in his heat as well as three Swedes took to the front as he Petter Northug (NOR) and TdS leader Maxim Vylegzhanin (RUS) were sidelined.

“I put in a few hard accelerations and attacked during my heat and felt it really badly in the legs afterward,” Newell told Trax post-race. “My plan for the rest of the Tour is to continue for the next two stages with a focus on the 5km classic in Toblach. I will use the 35km as a good race/training opportunity and push hard, but will definitely be focused on Friday’s classic race. Then I will be done with the Tour.”

In the final Valjas got an incredible jump on the field in what looked like might be a false start but no second gun went off and the lanky 6’6″ Torontonian looked strong. “I was just tired of making comebacks so I punched it to the front right away in the final,” said Valjas.

But Valjas was caught by Krogh, Pellegrino and Cologna and up the final climb suddenly the Swiss star went down as his left ski caught on something (…perhaps a flag) as Valjas surged by to take over third.

“There is always a bit of luck in sprint racing, but felt like I had third if I kept drafting Cologna,” added Valjas. “The downhill finish here was perfect for me. It was a lot of fun racing here beside Cologna. There were so many cowbells, flags and people screaming that it made the atmosphere awesome. This is beyond my expectations and I’m just really happy with how things turned out.”

The TdS takes another day off as the caravan transfers to Italy tomorrow and picks up again on Jan. 3 in Cortina-Toblach (ITA) for the 15/35km FR Handicap start and more fireworks.

Men’s Qualifications here.
Men’s final here.
TdS M Overall here.