January 10, 2016 (Val di Fiemme, ITA) – Canada’s Alex Harvey took on the final 9km FR stage of the Tour de Ski up Alpe Cermis to finish 14th overall as Norway’s Martin Johnsrud Sundby led the 10th edition of the Tour wire-to-wire. Sundby to cross the finish line to claim his third consecutive Tour title. Sundby’s teammate, Finn Haagen Krogh, was second in the 8-stage race at 3:15 behind while Russia’s Sergey Ustiugov locked up third place at 3:58 in arrears.

“It has been a perfect Tour for me. I had one bad day. But everything has been perfect. The team has been great. I am happy for me and the whole team. I went for the stage victory and wanted to be fastest today. I am happy I did it and I am really tired,” said Sundby.

“I’m going to be happy with the day. It was my best climb by far. I didn’t fully remember it from before and I think I went out a bit too conservative. Both my legs were working really well so I’m really happy with the day,” said Harvey who last did Cermis in 2012 thanks to surgery this summer to correct circulation issues in his leg that prevented him from skate skiing up steep hills.

Harvey’s teammate Ivan Babikov, who won this stage back in 2009, posted the 11th fastest time up Cermis ending up in the point placing 29th. American Noah Hoffman had the 15th fastest time of the day to finish a a career-best 22nd overall at the Tour.

Harvey was 16th fastest while his teammate Devon Kershaw was 19th fastest and placed 32nd overall. The USA’s Erik Bjornsen ended up 41st overall. Kershaw holds the record of the best Canadian result at the Tour placing just off the podium in 4th in 2012.

“The hill is not that long, but it has three really steep pitches that have you breathing has hard as you can and your legs are super tired,” added Harvey. “You are just hacking it up the hill. You can’t find a technique that is appropriate for the terrain and it is just a really unusual feeling. The only way to describe it is it like going up a hill on your bike in the hardest gear and you are not allowed to switch gears. When you get to the finish line it is definitely a relief.”

Only 55 of the 100 best cross-country skiers finished the 10th anniversary Tour that was conceived back in 2006 by FIS Race Director at the time, Jurg Capol, and legendary Norwegian star, Vegard Ulvang. “The idea was created in Vegard’s “sauna” in August 2004, after my first year as race director. I mentioned that we were missing an annual highlight and we started the discussion, looking at other sports etc.,” Capol told Trax.

“It is a hard 10 days of racing and you for sure feel like you accomplished something when it is done,” added Harvey. “It is the same feeling for everyone, but I think there are likely five guys that are happy when it is done and the rest are wishing for more. I’m extremely disappointed with the Tour overall this year. I had a couple of good days, but I raced below my expectations.”

Fastest of the Day results here.
Final Standings here.