December 29, 2016 (Val Mustair, Switzerland) – Canada’s Alex Harvey (St.-Ferreol, Qué.), Devon Kershaw (Sudbury, Ont.), Len Valjas (Toronto), and Graeme Killick (Fort McMurray, Alta.) are set to hit the start line when the world’s best cross-country skiers kick off the ultimate high-performance 9-day grind at Val Mustair, Switzerland on December 31 as the 11th edition of the epic Tour de Ski gets underway.

Kershaw is one of a handful of athletes that started in all 10 previous editions of the Tour that is modeled after the Tour de France in cycling. One of the featured events on the Nordic calendar it features seven punishing races at four different venues in three countries to determine the king and queen of cross-country skiing.

Team Canada’s four entries will focus on fighting for the podium at each stage while contending for spots in the top-10 at the overall Tour when it wraps up on Jan. 8 in Val di Fiemme, Ita.

Former Alpe Cermis winner, Ivan Babikov, has been assigned Canada’s coaching duties for the Tour, and has assembled a closely-knit wax team of six experienced techs. To contend for the overall Tour lead there’s no margin for error in ski preparation and Team Canada will have one of the best athlete-to-wax tech ratios for each Tour stage.

Tour de Ski 2017 Schedule

December 31 – Val Mustair, Sui.
Skate Sprint

January 1 – Val Mustair, Sui.
10km Classic Mass Start

January 3 – Oberstdorf, GER
10km Skiathlon

January 4 – Oberstdorf, Ger.
15km Skate Pursuit

January 6 – Toblach, Ita.
10km Skate

January 7 – Val di Fiemme, Ita.
15km Classic Mass Start

January 8 – Val di Fiemme, Ita. (Alpe Cermis)
9km Skate Pursuit