March 24, 2019 (Quebec City, QC) – Canada’s Alex Harvey, 30, celebrated a storybook ending to his career, winning back-to-back silver medals on home snow in sunny conditions for a dream weekend finale, as massive crowds cheered him on at the final men’s 15km FR Pursuit in Quebec City.

Harvey brought the country to its feet as he bested Russia’s Alexander Bolshunov in the final sprint to the line on the Plains of Abraham to claim his second silver of the weekend, as the crowd roared approval. Norway’s Johannes Klaebo won the Pursuit, the mini tour, and the overall series Globe.

“It’s a special day, but I really focused on the race this morning and got ready the same way I usually do. I wanted to give my best because I knew the podium was mine to lose,” said Harvey, dubbed the Prince of Quebec, and now recognized as the King of Canadian cross-country skiing.

“To end my career with two podiums makes me feel even better about my decision. I always wanted to stop while being at the top, and even if it was a tough season for me, I think the last two weeks have been really good. The time is right,” he added.

Erik Bjornsen from Winthrop, Wash. was the top U.S. finisher in the three-day mini tour in 20th. “It was an interesting course with a little wind and relatively flat compares to some of the world cups, so it was important to be skiing with a group of guys,” said Bjornsen who was leading the World Cup race on Saturday for a short stint.

“I could see there were some guys skiing fast from behind, so I knew time of day was not going to be great, so tried to play it tactically. My 20th today was my best tour finish, so it was pretty exciting way to finish the season,” he concluded.

Also retiring was Toronto’s Lenny Valjas, the third most successful men’s skier in Canadian history, having won seven World Cup medals. “Today was special to retire with Alex. I know it is a bigger deal for him, but it is special for me to end my career in front of the Canadian crowd. They were so supportive of me,” said 30-year-old Valjas who finishing 38th in the final Pursuit race.

“To finish at home with my parents, friends, family and wax techs there is really special. I’m so glad I went one more year after the Olympics to finish here,” he added.

The exciting finale saw Harvey and Bolshunov close the 52-second gap on Klaebo at the 7.5km mark as trio played cat and mouse over the final two laps. Klaebo sat on as Bolshunov drove the pace but the cagey Norwegian attacked on the final uphill as Harvey drafted Bolshunov into the stadium.

Making his move on the finishing stretch, Harvey out-sprinted the Russian in the final 200 metre stretch, as the crowd erupted into pandemonium.

“In the last lap, I knew I would be on the podium, so I wanted to remain strategic. Klaebo had more legs than us on the last hill, but I had a good sprint at the end, so I am happy,” said Harvey who clocked the fastest time on the day.

Following a trail to the international podium by his father, Pierre, along with Beckie Scott and Sara Renner, Harvey and teammate, Devon Kershaw, led a medal-charged era for Canada’s cross-country skiers that spanned more than a decade.

The Canadian duo took things to a new level in 2011 when they became the first Canadian men ever to win a World Championship cross-country ski race, claiming the gold in the team sprint at the birthplace of the sport in Oslo, Norway. They celebrated the breakthrough by playing air guitar with their skis in the finish corral.

Harvey secured 32 World Cup podiums, including seven victories, and five World Championship medals. His first World Cup podium also occurred on home snow in 2009 when he teamed up with George Grey to win the bronze in Whistler, B.C.

Harvey twice finished third in the overall World Cup standings (2013-14, and 2016-17). He also finished third overall at the prestigious Tour de Ski in 2018. His biggest win came in 2017 when he became Canada’s first World Champion in an individual cross-country ski race, winning the feature event – the men’s 50-kilometre race. In three trips to the Olympic Winter Games, his best finish came last year when he finished six seconds off the podium in fourth in the marathon event in PyeongChang.

Struggling to find his top form after sprinting to the bronze-medal step of the podium in the second week of the 2018-19 season, the Nordic phenom put a silver bow on his storybook career this weekend.

“In October I was dreaming about it ending this way, but in February I couldn’t really dream about that anymore because things weren’t going well. I held on to the idea that I could get on the podium one more time, but I really didn’t know,” said Harvey, who was overcome with emotion after reaching that goal on Saturday.

“Emotionally this is the number one weekend for me in my career. Yesterday was really emotional because I still believed I could be on the podium, but I needed help to see it. Today, it was easier to believe, so I could appreciate the day more. On that last lap I was really able to savor the moment. It was great.”

Men’s Pursuit here.
Winner of the day here.
Mini Tour here.
Overall WCup here.