CANMORE, Alberta — The seventh stage of the Ski Tour Canada on Friday, the men’s 15 k freestyle individual start, tightened up the standings for the overall with one stage to go. Russia’s Sergey Ustiugov leads, but by only 32 seconds ahead of Norway’s Petter Northug. If that wasn’t reason enough for Ustiugov to keep a high-octane pace, Northug’s teammate, Martin Johnsrud Sundby starts 39 seconds back from the Russian.
The following photos capture the action of a beautiful day in Canmore and a decisive day for the men, with the stage win going to Finland’s Matti Heikkinen, Russia’s Evgeniy Belov placing second and Sweden’s Marcus Hellner placing third.
Tour leader, Russian Sergey Ustiugov during the men’s 15k skate on Friday in Canmore, Alberta. (Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus)
Norway’s Martin Johnsrud Sundby during the men’s 15k skate leg of the Ski Tour Canada in Canmore, Alberta. Sundby may not be the only Norwegian athlete who used a nebulizer to take asthma medication – even healthy athletes were apparently recommended to do so. (Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus)
Canada’s Len Valjas during the men’s 15k skate on Friday in Canmore, Alberta. (Photo: Fischer/NordicFocus)
Canada’s Graeme Killick during the men’s 15k skate on Friday in Canmore, Alberta. (Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus)
Canada’s Devon Kershaw during the men’s 15k skate stage of the Ski Tour Canada in Canmore, Alberta. Kershaw finished the tour ranked 16th. (Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus)
Canada’s Alex Harvey during the men’s 15k skate on Friday in Canmore, Alberta. (Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus)
Canada’s Alex Harvey during the men’s 15k skate on Friday in Canmore, Alberta (Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus)
Canada’s Kevin Sandau (2) and Norway’s Emil Iversen (29) during the men’s 15k skate on Friday in Canmore, Alberta. (Photo: Fischer/NordicFocus)
Noah Hoffman (U.S. Ski Team) racing to 23rd in the men’s 15 k freestyle individual start at Stage 7 of the Ski Tour Canada in Canmore, Alberta. (Photo: Madshus/NordicFocus)
Finland’s Matti Heikkinen racing to the win during the men’s 15 k freestyle individual start on Friday at Stage 7 of the Ski Tour Canada in Canmore, Alberta. (Photo: Salomon/NordicFocus)
Canada’s Ivan Babikov during the men’s 15k skate on Friday in Canmore, Alberta. (Photo: Salomon/NordicFocus)
Finland’s Matti Heikkinen (49) leads France’s Robin Duvillard (25) during the men’s 15 k freestyle individual start on Friday at Stage 7 of the Ski Tour Canada in Canmore, Alberta. Heikkinen went on to win and Duvillard placed fifth. (Photo: Salomon/NordicFocus)
Canada’s Ivan Babikov (11) skiing ahead of Norway’s Petter Northug during the men’s 15 k freestyle individual start at Stage 7 of the Ski Tour Canada in Canmore, Alberta. Northug placed eighth and Babikov finished 10th on the day. (Photo: Salomon/NordicFocus)
Marcus Hellner of Sweden racing to third in the men’s 15 k freestyle individual start on Friday at Stage 7 of the Ski Tour Canada in Canmore, Alberta.
Canada’s Michael Somppi racing to 50th in the men’s 15k skate in Canmore, Alberta. He went on to place 49th overall in the Tour. (Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus)
Canada’s Alex Harvey leads Eirik Brandsdal of Norway while Canadian head coach Justin Wadsworth (l) calls out to him during the men’s 15 k freestyle individual start on Friday at Stage 7 of the Ski Tour Canada in Canmore, Alberta.
Erik Bjornsen (U.S. Ski Team) and a Russian skier (r) during the men’s 15k skate on Friday in Canmore, Alberta.
Norway’s Petter Northug Jr. during the men’s 15k skate on Friday in Canmore. Alberta.
American Tad Elliott leading Switzerland’s Jonas Baumann (13) during the men’s 15k skate on Friday in Canmore, Alberta.
Noah Hoffman (U.S. Ski Team) during the men’s 15k skate on Friday in Canmore, Alberta.
American Scott Patterson during the men’s 15 k skate on Friday in Canmore, Alberta.
The men’s podium (from l to r) with Russia’s Evgeniy Belov in second, Finland’s Matti Heikkinen in first, and Sweden’s Marcus Hellner in third at the men’s 15 k skate on Friday in Canmore, Alberta. (Photo: Fischer/NordicFocus)
