January 22, 2017 (Ulricehamn, Sweden) – Canada’s fab-four including Devon Kershaw, Alex Harvey, Knute Johnsgaard and Len Valjas delivered historic bronze reaching the podium the first time in the men’s 4×7.5km World Cup relay in Sweden on Sunday.

Norway I’s Finn Haagen Krogh took the win over Sweden I’s Calle Halfvarsson in the finishing straight in a very close battle as Canadian anchor Valjas closed on Halfvarsson for a photo finish that went to the Swede as the partisan crowd roared watching the thrilling finish. Only 0.5s separated the top three teams on the final podium.

“The team relay and the 50 kilometre are the biggest races in our sport by far so this means the world to us,” said the 34-year-old Kershaw, who skied onto the podium for the first time in three years. “We have talked about this medal a lot when I first came onto the World Cup. It is something we have always wanted, and weren’t able to get it done in previous generations – even back to the Pierre Harvey days. Even when Lenny, Alex and I were all winning multiple medals individually a few years ago we weren’t able to get it done so it shows how hard it is.”

Harvey agreed and was over the moon with the team’s effort. “It is incredible. We’ve been chasing this feeling since I’ve been on the team and for some reason we just could never get all four us on the same day,” said Harvey, who also skied classic. “Winning individual medals you enjoy it but you can’t share that enjoy as much with your teammates. When you do this together it is so emotional.”

“I’m speechless. It is pretty amazing and one of the best days of my life. Everything just came together,” said Johnsgaard. “This is all so new to me. It was only my second relay ever so to see Len come into podium position was an unreal feeling.”

Valjas played his hand smartly on the final leg to land on the podium. “I was just fighting so hard with my head down. I fought right to the end and when I looked up I saw the three guys running at me. I put out my arms and grabbed them all like a big fish net. They were my brakes and it was the best feeling I have ever felt in cross-country skiing to have them in my arms,” commented Valjas.

Team USA, consisting of Andy Newell, Erik Bjornsen, Noah Hoffman and Simi Hamilton raced to a respectable 10th place finish battling back from 13th at one point.

“Conditions were great despite the warm temperatures and the fans were out in force even with a thick fog so it was a fun race,” said

their lead off skier. “Leading off in the scramble leg we knew that the big climb on course would be a deciding factor. First lap we were all jostling for position going up the big hill and the hammer really dropped on the second lap. It was and interesting race and really tough to pass with only two tracks and lots of V boarded sections that you couldn’t cross. As a team we know we can do more and are capable of a much better finish so we are looking forward to the next one.”

Hamilton their anchor was pleased with the team’s effort on the day, and for Canada as well. “It was a solid day for sure. I felt good during my leg, especially since I’ve been dealing with a little achilles tendonitis for the last week or so. It was fast snow and a good course for me,” commented US anchor Hamilton. “My skis were great and it was for sure one of the more fun distance relays I’ve had the chance to race. All and all, it was a really fun day, especially since there were close to 40,000 fans lining the course and our great friends from the north skied on to the podium.”

The men’s relay came down to nine teams fighting out. Russia-1 and France lost contact near the end but caught back on with just 2 kilometers remaining and at the finish all nine were separated by just 3.8 seconds. As the finish line approached Norway, Sweden and Canada emerged as the top three teams ready to battle for the medals.

Sweden’s Halfvarsson led into the finishing straight as the crowd roared but Krogh overtook him as Valjas came up on the outside and almost pipped him at the line in a photo finish for the final podium spot.

“Winning individual races is awesome, but to stand on the podium with four guys from your country is the greatest feeling in the world. The relay is the only way to show the depth of program. Our team is on a shoe- string budget right now – especially compared to the rest of the world. We have been given every opportunity to fail and we are still doing this. It is a testament to the hard work of our entire staff and team so I am doubly proud of that,” added Kershaw.

“Seeing Yves Bilodeau, (lead wax technician) who has been at this sport for more than 30 years in the finish with Babs (Ivan Babikov) crying was amazing. Both of them weren’t able to win this as athletes and we are so happy they are now a part of this. You need the whole team including the support staff clicking to make this happen. They are the ones making sure we are ready. It is just so special for all of us,” shared Harvey.

“I wanted to experience this feeling of being the last one to cross the finish line. It was amazing. We have wanted this for so long. Dancing to the music just cranked in the wax room is something I’ll never forget. We were the happiest team out there for sure,” said a smiling Valjas.

The only other time a Canadian cross-country ski team won a World Cup relay medal came 30 years ago when a women’s foursome of Angela Schmidt-Foster, Carol Gibson, Jena McAllister, and Marie-Andree Masson won the bronze in Canmore, Alta.

“It was really inspired by our fifth-place finish in Nove Mesto last year,” said Tom Holland High Performance Director at Cross Country Canada. “The key was to have complete buy-in from everyone on the men’s team to focus on this team goal recognizing if all the parts came together – we had a podium chance. After sitting down with the team, we got that buy in and today shows what can happen. This is a big day – a huge day for our program.”

Results here.