World Cup Middle

Coming to this World Cup I thought that making an A final was an impossibility for the Canadian men. I knew that Sandy Hott Johansen could do it after her 9th place last year at WOC but unfortunately she has been injured. But Canadian men have not had much success making the finals at World Cup races recently. Why? Well each country can enter two athletes per heat and only the top 17 from each heat go to the final. Compare that to top 15 in each heat going to the final at WOC with only one athlete per country per heat. Much better odds at WOC. BUT after a few days here at this World Cup in Estonia I am very confident that "WE CAN DO IT". Sure, no Canadian men made the final of the sprint or middle distance and a person looking to criticize would call it being 'shut out' but it is clear to me now that we have the ability to make the final and I think several others on the team feel the same way.

A perfect race by a fit Canadian will get them into the final of a WOC or a World Cup. Period.

I am very pleased with my middle distance B final result (10th). This is the distance I have been focussing my training on. The terrain suited me well. Similar to some areas in southern Ontario. I had too much hesitation in some places but also had a lot of good 'flow' and pushed hard. The B final was very similar to the A final course so it is possible to compare legs and split times. There is some very encouraging information in those splits. I now know what it is going to take to meet my middle distance goals at WOC. This World Cup has not been a 'shut out' but a great learning experience and I know what to do to be my best when it really counts in August in Denmark.

-Mike