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Alex Harvey 6th at nordic worlds in men's 30km skiathlon

CBC

Cross-country skier Alex Harvey put forth a solid effort Saturday at the world nordic championships, placing sixth in the men's 30-kilometre skiathlon race in Seefeld, Austria.

The 30-year-old battled warm temperatures and a challenging classic-ski portion to post a time of one hour 11 minutes 20.7 seconds, or less than a minute slower than the victorious Sjur Roethe of Norway (1:10:21.8). Russia's Alexander Bolshunov (1:10:21.9) and Norway's Martin Johnsrud Sundby (1:10:22.5) rounded out the podium.

The skiathlon combines cross-country skiing in classic-ski format (15 km) with skate-skiing (15 km). The clock runs between the two legs as the athletes enter a transition area to change equipment.

"It was two very distinct phases of the race today," Harvey told Cross Country Canada. "I expected a hard pace right from the gun, but the classic course was on the harder side today.

"Normally, when you are in the top six, you are in a mass start fighting for the podium until the end, but that wasn't the case today. I was never really in the hunt."

The equipment was great but I just wasn't skiing well and couldn't create enough speed ... — Canada's Alex Harvey after the men's 30 km skiathlon

As a pack of nearly 10 skiers surged ahead early, Harvey slipped as far back as 20th during the classic-ski portion but battled back and sat 10th as he entered the transition area.

"The gap was made there," the three-time Olympian said. "The equipment was great but I just wasn't skiing well and couldn't create enough speed, especially on the flat part of the course."

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On Thursday, Harvey placed 17th in the skate-ski sprint race, one day after the St-Ferreol-les Neiges, Que., native announced he would retire following the World Cup Final in Quebec City on March 24.

The five-time world championship medallist has reached the podium 30 times in World Cup competition.

Two other Canadians, Evan Palmer-Charrette (1:16:34.2) of Thunder Bay, Ont., and Toronto's Scott Hill (1:20:20.6), placed 45th and 58th, respectively.

Meanwhile, two Canadian women finished inside the top 40 in the 15 km skiathlon — Katherine Stewart-Jones of Chelsea, Que., in 39th (41 minutes 14.3 seconds) and Cendrine Brown of St-Jerome, Que. (41:19.7). Maya Macisaac-Jones of Athabasca, Alta., was 54th in 45:47.9.