Canadians Stewart-Jones and Cyr top 15 at cross-country World Cup in Norway

Canadian cross-country skiers Antoine Cyr and Katherine Stewart-Jones both finished in the top 15 in their respective mass start events at the Classic Skiing World Cup on Sunday in Lillehammer, Norway.

Cyr, 24, of Gatineau, Que., finished five seconds off the pace to place 12th in the men’s 20 kilometer race.

Paal Golberg of Norway placed first with a time of 48 minutes, 14.5 seconds. His compatriot Sjur Roethe finished less than a second behind at 48:15.4 for silver, while Martin Loewstroem Nyenget completed Norway’s sweep of the podium with a time of 48:15.6.

« It’s great, » said Cyr, who missed last week’s season-opening event in Finland due to illness. « I really needed this one. My morale was so low last week. I wasn’t sure about my form so this one is for all the support staff. It shows I’m still in the game. match. »

Stewart-Jones, 27, finished 13th in the women’s race with a time of 54:02.1.

Sweden’s Frida Karlsson won the gold medal with a time of 53:51.9, ahead of Norway’s Tiril Weng who finished in 53:52.5. Ebba Andersson of Sweden was third in 52:53.1.

Stewart-Jones and her Canadian teammates will look to bolster their performances next weekend when the World Cup heads to Beitostolen, Norway.

« It’s been really good to be super consistent. I’m convinced that I have a very good form and [this result] gives me the confidence that I can trust my body,” Stewart-Jones said. “It was so much fun on the World Cup this year. We have a great team. The team dynamic is really good, and it’s so much fun. »