January 3, 2007 – The Canadian squad struggled to find the right wax and skis, resulting in a disappointing day during the third leg of the Tour de Ski in Oberstdorf, Germany on Tuesday. Amanada Ammar, of Onoway, Alta., and Drew Goldsack, of Red Deer, Alta., led the Canucks in the women’s and men’s distance races. The 20-year-old Ammar finished 42nd with a time of 32 minutes 11.6 seconds in the women’s 10-kilometre classic race, while Goldsack was 48th in the men’s 15-kilometre classic event after crossing the line with a time of 42:04.5.

The only consolation for the worn out Canucks was Devon Kershaw, of Sudbury, Ont., who won a silver medal in the men’s sprint race during the first stage of the Tour, continues to hold the yellow jersey heading into Thursday’s sprint event despite losing significant time on the overall leaders of the Tour after strugging to cross the line in 67th spot at 43:47.3.

“It was extremely challenging and our entire team is disappointed with our performance,” said the 24-year-old Kershaw. “We gave it our best shot and it wasn’t good enough, but we have to take the good with the bad. I’m exhausted, but need to get some rest, find some energy and get ready for Thursday.”

It was Slovakia’s Petra Majdic who won stage three in the women’s division of the inaugural Tour de Ski in Europe with a time of 28:44.8. The Slovenian claimed her first World Cup victory by a 27-second margin over Norway’s Kristin Stoermer Steira (29:12.0) in difficult, and snowy conditions that plagued the Olympic track in Germany. Finland’s Virpi Kuitunen rounded out the top three at 29:18.6.

Three other Canadian women joined Ammar in the field. Montreal’s Dasha Gaiazova was 46th (32:24.1), while Chandra Crawford, of Canmore, Alta., was 49th (32:40.2), and Perianne Jones, of Almonte, Ont., finished 52nd (33:08.6).

“It was a struggle all day to find the right wax and skis,” said Dasha Gaiazova. “The conditions were constantly changing so it was hard to zero in on what to be ready for.”
Meanwhile, the German men stormed through the 15-kilometre individual classic stage on their home snow, sweeping the podium. Franz Goering led the German charge after setting the leading pace with a time of 39:40.7. Goering’s teammates, Rene Sommerfeldt, locked up second spot at 39:54.0, while Tobias Angerer was third (40:10.7).

Other Canadian men to hit the start line on Tuesday included: Stefan Kuhn, of Canmore, Alta., in 50th (42:11.9); George Grey, of Rossland, B.C. in 57th (42:42.4); Dan Roycroft, of Port Sydney, Ont., in 63rd (43:10.2); and Sean Crooks, of Thunder Bay, Ont., was 64th (43:23.7).

The Tour de Ski continues on Thursday with the men’s and women’s skate sprint events in Asiago, Italy.

Complete Results: www.fis-ski.com

Top-5 Men and Canadian Results:

1.Franz Goering, GER, 39:40.7; 2. Rene Sommerfeldt, GER, 39:54.0; 3. Tobias Angerer, GER, 40:10.7; 4. Eldar Roenning, NOR, 40:11.1; 5. Martin Bajcicak, SVK, 40:21.9.

Canadian Results:

48. Drew Goldsack, Red Deer, Alta., 42:04.5; 50. Stefan Kuhn, Canmore, Alta., 42:11.9; 57. George Grey, Rossland, B.C., 42:42.4; 63. Dan Roycroft, Port Sydney, Ont., 43:10.2; 64. Sean Crooks, Thunder Bay, Ont., 43:23.7; 67. Devon Kershaw, Sudbury, Ont., 43:47.3.



Top-5 Women and Canadian Results:

1. Petra Majdic, SLO, 28:44.8; 2. Kristin Stoermer Steira, NOR, 29:12.0; 3. Virpi Kuitunen, FIN, 29:18.6; 4. Valentina Shevchenko, UKR, 29:21.9; 5. Aino Kaisa Saarinen, FIN, 29:22.7.

Canadian Results:

42. Amanda Ammar, Onoway, Alta., 32:11.6; 46. Dasha Gaiazova, Montreal, 32:24.1; 49. Chandra Crawford, Canmore, Alta., 32:40.2; 52. Perianne Jones, Almonte, Alta., 33:08.6.



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