Music: {allcanada} CANADA'S KERSHAW WINS SILVER IN SECOND STAGE OF TOUR DE SKI

Saturday, January 1, 2011

{allcanada} CANADA'S KERSHAW WINS SILVER IN SECOND STAGE OF TOUR DE SKI

OBERHOF, Germany -- Canadian cross-country skier Devon Kershaw didn't climb up a World Cup podium at all during 2010.

He wasted little time in ensuring that wouldn't happen again in 2011.

Starting 37th because of a disappointing performance in Friday's prologue race, the Sudbury, Ont., native reeled in the pack on New Year's Day to win a silver medal in the second stage of the cross-country World Cup's annual Tour de Ski.

Dario Cologna of Switzerland survived a sprint finish with Kershaw and Russian Alexander Legkov to win the 15-kilometre classical handicap race in 47 minutes 48.1 seconds. Kershaw, from Sudbury, Ont., finished in 47:48.6, just ahead of Legkov's 47:48.9.

"I am absolutely happy," said Kershaw. "That was one of the better races I have done, if not the best of my career.

"It means so much to me be to get back on the World Cup podium. I know I'm there and I believe I am one of the best skiers in the world when things come together. I had some really good fourth and fifth-place results last year, but this is pretty cool. It is a relief really."

Kershaw's last World Cup podium came in 2009 when he won bronze in the 15-kilometre classic ski race at the Tour de Ski in Oberhof. He also has silver (Borlaenge, Sweden) and bronze (Munich) medals he won in 2006.

While he didn't win any medals in 2010, he did finish fourth in the 50-kilometre feature event at the Vancouver Olympics, fractions of a second off the podium.

All those events play to his strengths.

"I don't think it is so much the course here as it is the type of race that I enjoy," said Kershaw. "I enjoy the pursuit. There is lots of action and bodies everywhere. Classic skiing is my strength and I just really enjoy the way this race plays out.

"It is hard to get back on the podium. A lot of people have been supporting me and they played a big part of this today."

Alex Harvey of St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., was ninth in 47:57.2 while Ivan Babikov of Canmore, Alta., was 32nd at 48:37.2 on Saturday.

The Tour de Ski is modelled after cycling's Tour de France and features eight races over 10 days on five venues in Germany and Italy to determine the world's top Nordic skiers.

"This thing is long. It's a long haul. It's legit and it is hard," said Kershaw. "I know I'll celebrate when I get home with my friends, but right now, you can't get too down over a bad race or too excited with a podium.

"Tomorrow is a new day and you have to find a way to be ready."

The Tour continues Sunday with classical sprints in Oberstdorf, Germany.

On the women's side, Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland protected her lead from Friday's prologue and was never threatened in the 10K, winning in 33:32.5.

Finland's Krista Lahteenmaki moved up from 10th place to finish second, 27.5 seconds behind, and Marianna Longa of Italy was another three seconds back in third.

No Canadian women are entered in the event.