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DOBBIACO, Italy -- Another podium finish for Canadian Alex Harvey on Friday. Harvey, of St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., finished third in the gruelling 35-kilometre freestyle pursuit. The race was fifth of seven stages in the Tour de Ski circuit. Harvey, 25, started 35 seconds behind leader Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway. He tucked himself into a group of seven athletes, conserving energy for the first 18-kilometre high-speed climb on the mountain pass before the descent into Toblach. "My plan was to fight for dear life and hang on to that group," said Harvey. "It went a lot easier on the climb than I thought. "Its a unique race that we only do once a year and you really never know how far in you are. It is a challenge mentally and fun to chase people down and form little groups." Harvey also won gold in the prologue race at the Tour opener in Oberhof, Germany and was second in the sprint race in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. With heavy snow and warm conditions projected for the 10-kilometre classic-ski race in Val di Fiemme, Italy on Saturday, recovery will be critical for the final two stages. "Im really happy with how things went," said Harvey, who is third in the overall standings. "Heading into the Tour I was hoping for a few top-five finishes, but to be in the top-three overall the whole way is exciting." Johnsrud Sundby won the race to increase his overall lead, showing hell be a medal contender at next months Sochi Olympics. Sundby posted a time of one hour, 20 minutes, 18.7 seconds. Compatriot Petter Northug beat Harvey in a sprint for second, finishing 58.2 seconds behind Johnsrud Sundby. Harvey was third, 58.7 behind. "I tried to keep a steady pace," Sundby said. "Luckily I had a good day and was able to keep the gap." Still, Harvey registered his 10th career World Cup podium. He has two world championship medals. Devon Kershaw, of Sudbury, Ont., was 23rd in 1:23:24.0. Ivan Babikov, of Canmore, Alta., finished 28th in 1:23:25.0 despite skiing four of the first five kilometres without a pole. Sundby moved 1:03.2 ahead of Northug in the overall standings, with Harvey in third, 1:08.7 behind. In the womens 15-kilometre free pursuit, Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen of Norway maintained her overall lead by winning in 37:30.3. Two-time runner-up Therese Johaug, also of Norway, finished second, 38.7 behind, and Anne Kyllonen of Finland was third, 1:12.2 behind. In the overall standings, Jacobsen holds a 43.7-second lead over Johaug, with Kyllonen 1:22.2 behind in third. The Tour concludes over the weekend in Val di Fiemme, highlighted by the traditional climb up Mount Cermis on Sunday. "I still hold (Johaug) as the favourite with her climbing ability for the final stages," Jacobsen said. "But my shape is getting better and better and I feel like Im on track for the Olympic Games, which is the most important thing." The Sochi Olympics start Feb. 7. 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While there certainly is plenty of room for intrigue when it comes to what bodies will appear in the top half of Willie Desjardins forward crew, it is my feeling that the most captivating section of forwards lies in the bottom half of the allotted four lines. The trios representing what could be the third and fourth lines will have a large role to play under the regime of Desjardins. If his coaching history lends its hand to how these six players will be used, by all accounts, they will be responsible for making the Canucks a tough team to play against in the following ways: Pace and Tempo: Desjardins likes his teams to play up to a high level of compete, which includes dictating the pace of the game and determining the change in tempo. If the level drops off, no line will be spared from the expectation to once again kick-start the pace and swing the tempo back in favour of the Canucks. Maintaining the tempo is also a requirement and the bottom half of the forward lineup may be played in more situations in order to pave the way for the top six forwards to spring into action. Frustrating the opponent: Owning up to responsible play will be a mandate across all of the lines, but in particular, the bottom half of Desjardins forward crew. These lines will be called upon to finish every check and play sensible, not giving into reactionary penalties. If this attitude is combined with the above pace and tempo narrative, one can imagine how agitated the opponent could become. Balancing the line-up: It is my belief that Desjardins would like to have the oppoortunity to go to any line, any night and rely on that line based on how the game is being played out.dddddddddddd This puts the onus on the bottom six forwards to be ready to play variable minutes from night to night, depending on how the coach sees fit. It may surprise some which lines get used against certain teams or on certain nights, but it could be a reactionary element that helps to round out Dejardins arsenal. Another aspect of increased bottom six minutes is to bring balance to the lineup, relating to the top six forwards. This not only applies to overall minutes, but situational play in games. The fresher the top six are kept throughout the later stages of the game, the more opportunity there is to dictate the play and either change gears to catch up or to power home the win. With all of this in mind, the competition for spots on the third and fourth lines could be extreme. Many of the players who held those jobs in the previous year are still around and there have also been new names added to the mix, which widens the group that must be narrowed down, come opening night. Adding to internal competition, is the fact that some players are in contract years, including the likes of Shawn Matthias, Brad Richardson and Tom Sestito who are due to become unrestricted free agents and Linden Vey who is a restricted free agent at seasons end. These players will not only be competing in camp for jobs on this years Canucks team, but will be slugging it out the whole season for a chance to be renewed. Thus, the drive to survive is on, in a big way, for a group of forwards hoping to find their names on the Canucks roster this season and it all leads to puck-drop Oct. 8th in Calgary. ' ' '