By Canadian Press

Cross-country skier Alex Harvey to retire at end of World Cup season

Feb 20, 2019 | 7:15 AM

MONTREAL — Alex Harvey, one of Canada’s most successful cross-country skiers, will hang up his skis for good at the end of the current World Cup season.

Cross Country Canada says the 30-year-old will wrap up his career in front of a home crowd in Quebec City during a World Cup March 22-24.

Harvey, a native of St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., is a two-time world champion.

“Earlier this week, Cross Country Canada learned that Alex Harvey would confirm his retirement at the end of the present season,” spokesman Chris Dornan said in a series of text messages. “Alex has accomplished great things in his sport and we can’t wait for the last six weeks of his career.”

Cross Country Canada indicated that a special event to highlight Harvey’s career and retirement would be organized in the spring.

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“He feels ready, and (the retirement announcement) has taken a certain weight off his shoulders,” team coach Louis Bouchard said in an email.

Harvey’s notable achievements include winning the team sprint at the world championships in 2011 in Norway and the 50-kilometre gold at the 2017 world championships in Lahti, Finland.

Harvey also won two individual World Cup events, a skate-sprint in Poland in 2014 and the 15-kilometre freestyle in Sweden in 2017. He also finished second three times in World Cup finals (2014, 2017 and 2018), and competed in three Olympic games, finishing fourth on two occasions.

As his final season continues, Harvey will next compete in this weekend’s world championships in Austria, where he will try to add to his already impressive total of five career medals at the worlds.

The Canadian Press