Alex Harvey wins World Cup silver in Quebec City
27-year-old grew up 50 km from course
Canada's Alex Harvey took advantage of the home-field crowd Friday to win silver on Quebec City's Plains of Abraham.
The 27-year-old finished the 1.7-kilometre sprint course 0.55 seconds behind gold medallist Babtiste Gros, but well ahead of his season ranking of 20th in the sprint. Harvey is ranked 13th overall in World Cup events.
"I had dreams of a podium finish here when I first heard we'd be hosting a Tour in Canada," said Harvey. "The crowd got louder and louder all day long every time my name was called. The noise gave me wings today and I felt like I was just floating down the trail."
Russia's Sergey Ustiugov finished in third.
The medal is Harvey's second on the World Cup circuit this season and his first in a sprint competition. He also won a silver in the 10 km event in November in Finland.
"It is such a hard course and I just took my chance to attack today," said Harvey. "It is the third stage of the Tour, people are starting to feel fatigue so I went for it. There were a few crashes today, but I think the best skiers won."
Harvey is a resident of Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que., a town about 50 km east of Quebec City.
Canadian Jesse Cockney finished 10th.
Sweden's Stina Nilsson won the women's sprint.
The event continues Saturday and can be streamed live on CBCSports.ca beginning at 3 p.m. ET.
The World Cup cross-country ski season concludes in Canmore, Alta., next weekend. It will also be streamed live on CBCSports.ca.