January 18, 2014 (Szklarska Poreba, Poland) – Canada’s Alex Harvey claimed his first full World Cup victory today in Poland taking the win in the men’s 1.5km Sprint FR with smart, solid skiing. Germany’s Joseph Wenzl finished second, his first podium since 2012 in Milan, Italy, while Baptiste Gros (FRA) scored his first World Cup podium as he bested teammate Cyril Gaillard in the final lunge at the line.

Alex Harvey takes his first full World Cup win. © Nordic Focus

The USA’s Andy Newell, who qualified second and looked strong all day, took a tumble in the final as he got caught up with a French skier in a corner and was unable to recover finishing 6th on the day. With Harvey and Kikkan Randall’s (USA) matching wins (Randall won the women’s sprint), it marked the first time that two North American athletes occupied the top spot of the podium on the same day at a FIS XC World Cup.

“It is great to get another podium. I felt pretty good coming back from the Tour de Ski, but you just never know. This race confirms things for me,” said Harvey, who finished third in the overall sprint standings at the Tour de Ski and was sitting fourth overall before he abandoned the Tour prior to the final day due to potential complications with his left climb on the brutal Alpe Cermis climb on the last stage.

“I know the Scandinavian countries weren’t here today but the Russians have been the ones to beat in sprinting and I was able to do that today. The skis were great today, and I’m confident with the Olympics coming up,” he added.

Alex Harvey celebrates © Nordic Focus

Both Harvey and Newell won their quarter finals as did Nikita Kruikov (RUS). Two other Russians advanced as well including Anton Gafarov and Gleb Retivykh, but fellow Russians Alexey Petukhov, the third fastest qualifier, and Nikolay Morilov (4th in the qualifications) did not make it past the quarter final heats.

Harvey’s teammate Devon Kershaw also qualified for the heats placing 20th in the qualifications, but was eliminated in his quarter final heat placing 4th and finished 18th on the day. Newell skied strong and smart in his semi final heat finishing second behind Wenzl in a close match but nothing comes easy in World Cup racing.

“I felt strong out there today and our skis were running great. The course was a little bit more narrow than usual because of the lack of snow, but in general the conditions were great,” Newell told Trax.

“It was a very nerve-racking sprint especially in the men’s heats because there’s always such a tight pack of skiers going into the high speed downhill and a lot of drafting and blocking is always going down. So you really have to play your cards right.

Andy Newell looked strong all day... © Nordic Focus

“In the QF and SF I felt like I did this pretty well. My finishing speed in both heats felt really good in the last 100m. I almost didn’t make the final because Wenzel put the breaks on in the lane in front of me so I basically had to lunge between his legs. That was a close call but I was feeling great and had a lot of confidence for the podium going into the final,” he continued.

Harvey was also feeling strong and in his semi final Kruikov went down in a corner. While the Canadian was able to avoid any contact he lost a bit of ground and finished 4th yet advanced to the final as both Lucky Losers came from his heat.

“The conditions were getting icy and a little dangerous so I knew I had to get out in front. I wasn’t afraid of being tired because I knew I was in great shape so my tactic was to stay out in front today. I had no choice,” said Harvey who looked forward to the final match up.

Newell crash in the final ©

In the final Harvey sat third and Newell 4th for the first half of the race as a French skier attacked at the front. The chasers kept him in check and as Harvey and Wenzel made their move to pass him Newell tangled briefly with a French skier as he tried to advance and it was game over.

As Harvey and Wenzel dropped the field the Canadian deftly took the inside lane around the final corner and the win was his for the taking as he gapped Wenzel and took his first full World Cup victory.

“The final was filled with pure sprinters, but I wasn’t afraid of them or getting tired today because I knew the shape is there,” said the winner. “It’s great to finally get my first full World Cup and Devon won here last year to it’s great to keep the title in the family.”

Harvey comments on his win

Qualifications here.
Final resuls here.

Final podium (l-r) Wenzel 2nd, Harvey 1st, Gros 3rd © Nordic Focus