PLANICA, Slovenia – With odds stacked up, a Canadian cross-country skiing relay blew away expectations and then some at the Nordic World Championships.
An exceptional fifth place on Friday (March 3) in Planica, Slovenia, ties with Canada's best ever four-man’s relay finish at a worlds and has pumped a jolt of electricity into the growing potential of the young core moving forward.
And to think, this team might have not even suited up for the relay.
“There was a lot of talk about us potentially not even having a relay team there because we really didn’t have enough experience to take in there and it could have potentially been a negative experience for them,” said Robin McKeever, head coach of Nordiq Canada’s national team.
“To come out of it with something that positive, I think, was about shifting mentality over what it is that a lot of people who have done this for a long time think or believe.”
Canada’s relatively inexperienced men’s team of Xavier McKeever of Canmore, Antoine Cyr of Gatineau, Graham Ritchie of Parry Sound, and Olivier Léveillé of Sherbrooke, proved to be a team to keep an eye on as they threatened for a podium in the 4X10-km relay.
Canada finished at a time of 1:34:17.2 – less than 23 seconds behind third place Germany.
Norway won gold and Finland finished with silver.
“Stoked” is what best describes how the Canucks are feeling.
“It’s one of the best relays we’ve had in recent years,” said Xavier, the youngest member of the team at age 19. “I think at the same time, we were in the pack, fighting for a medal and that was kind of insane and new for all of us.”
Xavier got the task of the first leg of the relay – 10-km of classic skiing, which is his strongest technique. The relay mixes two classic legs and two classic-ski legs in 40-km.
In the lead spot, that usually goes to Ritchie, the man from Ontario’s cottage country agreed to give it to the younger athlete to better suit his strengths.
“We had a lot of input in our team with the athletes with what they wanted to ski,” said Xavier. “I think that really helped the success of our team on that day being able to choose our ideal relay line up.”
There is added pressure in the relay, that switches an athletes' usual individually-minded focus to trying to give the next racer up the best spot available. However, competing at worlds, and having a positive showing was very important for the young Canmorite.
Before the first leg, the young McKeever, the son of head coach Robin, had felt there was a little extra pressure and nerves after a disappointing junior worlds a month prior where results were far from expectations.
“[Xavier] had lot to prove to himself after the world juniors,” said Robin. “It was important in the leg for his own peace of mind.”
The relay started hot, with a fiery pace set by Norway darting to the front. Xavier stayed among the lead chase pack throughout 10-km.
“I think for me a bit more self pressure and a little bit more nerves, but I think overall I just handled it really well and focused on what my job was and that was to stick with the main pack and hand off to Antoine in a good position,” said Xavier. “I think just focusing on that just kept the nerves down and confidence high.”
The Canmore skier tagged Cyr, who is the strongest cross-country skier on the team, to complete the second classic leg. From there, it went to Ritchie, and then the anchor, Léveillé, who brought it home for fifth place.
The exceptional result boasts the young core and team with a wave of confidence, and excitement, as the team transitions.
“A lot of that relay result, I think, had a lot to do with those younger athletes taking the lead of what it was going to actually be,” said Robin. “This success was a team effort on the four athletes' part and they set up success in their way.”
