VAL DI FIEMME, Italy — Canada’s Devon Kershaw continued his march to the World Cup medal podium Saturday, capturing bronze in the seventh stage of the Tour de Ski.
The Sudbury, Ont., native finished the 20-kilometre classic cross-country ski race in 57 minutes 19.4 seconds, lunging at the line in a photo finish to claim his fourth medal in just over a week.
“There is not much else I can do now,” Kershaw said. “Four podiums is unbelievable. I’m still fired up. I raced my best again and I finished on the podium. I have always dreamed of being on the World Cup podium and winning a World Cup race so to be a part of it is amazing.”
Norway’s Petter Northug Jr. won the stage in 57:17.2, while overall tour leader, Dario Cologna of Switzerland, claimed the silver. Alex Harvey of St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., was fifth for the second time in as many races.
The 28-year-old Kershaw raced to his first career victory earlier this week and won back-to-back silver medals last weekend.
“People are surprised. I’m surprised too but we really shouldn’t be,” Kershaw said on the recent success of the Canadian team. “We are not a bunch of bums skiing in Canada. We have a great group of skiers in our country and our men’s team has taken our turns at the podium over the last few years. We have worked really hard and we shouldn’t be surprised.”
Kershaw and Harvey settled into the pack with the top 10 in the mass start race Saturday, working together until the final 200-metre sprint to the finish line.
With just one stage to go on the Tour — a gruelling nine-kilometre climb up Alpe Cermis — Kershaw is fourth overall.
Kershaw’s journey to the podium began with a silver in the 15-kilometre classic race in Oberhof, Germany last Saturday. He followed that up the next day with a second-place finish in the classic-sprint in Oberstdorf. The two-time Olympian won gold Wednesday in a skate-sprint in Toblach, Italy.
“There are so many reasons for why this has come together,” Kershaw said.“I keep saying Justin (Wadsworth, Canada’s head coach) has been a real asset to my training. He has changed me as a skier, but I think just the group of skiers I train with in Canada has been important. The competition is getting so good and we keep pushing each other to be better.”
Ivan Babikov, of Canmore, was 27th Saturday.