December 23, 2012 – Canada has named four athletes to represent the country at the 2012/2013 edition of the Tour de Ski. The team goals are daily podiums, top 10 overall results for each athletes and an overall TDS podium title. Last year Devon Kershaw came very close to an overall podium spot, until settling for 4th overall in the final stage, 26 seconds off the lead. Alex Harvey finished 12th and Ivan Babikov 27th after significant injuries obtained in a severe crash encountered in the latter stages of the Tour.

This year the Tour has been shortened to allow the athletes ample time to prepare for the World Championships that are held in the region of the final stage of the Tour.

The Canadian team was selected based upon athletes meeting these objectives and the following standards: two top-20 distance results on the World Cup (Nov-Dec 2012) or a WC result with a minimum of 15 FIS points and/or a previous top-12 individual results in the TdS from the previous year.

Selection Criteria document

The following athletes have been named to the team:

• Alex Harvey: 11th place finish Canmore 15k cl and 17th Kuusamo 110k F, 5 top-12s in the 2012 TDS including a second place podium finish.

• Devon Kershaw: 4th place overall TdS 2012 including four podiums.

• Ivan Babikov: 12th Canmore skiathlon, 14th Gaellivare 15K F, 20th Canmore 15K cl.

• Len Valjas: Len was selected on force majeure, which is defined as unexpected event beyond the reasonable control of the athlete that crucially affects an athlete’s ability to compete (e.g. illness, injury, transportation breakdown) and can be put forward as rationale for not having competed in or completed selection races. Len suffered an injury to his hand just prior to the departure for Europe in November. This required immobilization of his hand for a couple weeks and after that the need for a splint when skiing. His early European training was limited to one arm and he missed the first weekend of racing in Bruksvallarna. In the first WC race weekend in Gaellivare, he only suited up for the relay, and with his splint contributed to a 5th place finish. It wasn’t until  the Canmore WCs that he has been able to race without the splint and placed 24th in the 15K cl. Given that Len had a WC podium last March in the 15k cl in Falun and 2 other sprint podiums in the same March period, he was added to the TDS team.

Racing begins on Dec 29th in Oberhof, Germany. Look for further updates, press releases and details on the CCC site as we get closer to the race series.