WHISTLER, British Columbia — Sweden’s Emil Joensson and Robin Bryntesson won the men’s World Cup cross-country skiing team sprint race Sunday on the venue that will host the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Joensson and Bryntesson finished with a time of 19 minutes, 44.10 seconds, giving Joensson his second gold of the weekend after winning Friday’s individual sprint event. Italian brothers Fabio and Renato Pasini were second in 19:44.40, with Canada’s George Grey and Alex Harvey third in 19:44.70.
Harvey caught Russia’s Alexei Petukhov at the finish to earn Canada’s first men’s World Cup medal in team sprint and bolstering the host country’s hopes of winning a medal in the event at next year’s Winter Games.
“It means we can do it,” said the 20-year-old Harvey, who won his first medal in just his fourth World Cup. “It means Canada men’s relay team can podium at the World Cup and at the Olympics.”
Italy’s Magda Genuin and Arianna Follis won the women’s race in 17:20.10. Germany’s Nicole Fessel and Stefanie Boehler were second in 17:30.00 while Sweden’s Lina Andersson and Anna Olsson were third in 17:31.20.
The team sprint features teams of two athletes with each going around the course three times and tagging off to their partner after each lap.
The weekend competition was the first Olympic test event held at the Whistler Olympic Park, located about 13 miles southwest of Whistler. Between 15,000 and 20,000 people attended the event over the three days. During the Games, up to 25,000 people a day are expected to attend. The facility will also host ski jumping and biathlon during the Olympics.
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