L’Etape by Tour de France in Edmonton August 14, 2022
The power of the Peloton (not the indoor bike!)
Riding (or racing) in a group of cyclists is a powerful example of how group dynamics can be a force to be reckoned with ….. When cyclists draft off of each other, the result unleashes a fullisade of speed unrecognized by the solo rider. Tactics usually dictate that a rider should never feel the wind in his or her face, saving energy for the final last kilometres. As quoted from “The Rider”…”always eat from someone else’s dinner plate before eating from your own”. However, it seems that there is always someone willing to be at the front, driving the pace faster than the last rider to be there. So it was in my first Tour de France in 1986. Many of the old pros did not want to push the pace on the 1st of 23 stages but me being the rookie that year, changed the game and attacked to go solo, earning time bonus’ that put me ahead on overall time to take the yellow leader’s jersey, the first North American man to do so.
More recently, I co-founded the Tour of Alberta with Jared Smith (incessant promotor of all things Edmonton), which brought professional cyclists to Alberta for the biggest UCI ranked, multi-day stage race in Canadian history. The event was televised, viewed online or witnessed live and in-person by more than 50M people annually for 5 years. Even more recently, Edmonton hosted the Elite National Cycling Championships, show casing Edmonton’s river valley to the rest of the country.
Through these events, I’ve witnessed first-hand the power of cycling in Edmonton as a community builder, fundraiser, health enforcer and profile enhancer. And the beauty of the sport is that it’s family centric, healthy for the body and planet, and loads of fun.
The Tour de France in Edmonton?!
For these reasons and more I’m excited to act as an ambassador to Edmonton’s newest mass participation cycling event on Sunday, August 14: L’Etape by Tour de France ("Stage of the Tour de France"). Exclusive to a handful of cities in the world and the first of it’s kind in Canada, L’Etape brings closed roads and the spirit and culture of the Tour de France to Edmonton. I will lead amateur cyclists, cycling enthusiasts and near-first-timers on wonderful routes through and around the city.
A ride for everyone
For families, kids and amateur racers there will be something for everyone: from shorter family rides to a challenging 160km Gran Fondo. There are three route options, all starting and ending in downtown Edmonton. *Kids ride FREE.
Clip in and click here: register today!
Bottom line, in order for Edmonton to continue to attract world-class cycling events like L’Etape, we need you and your family and friends to show up! Please register yourself, your family and your team today and help spread the word… clip in and click here for registration information along with special offers and promotions.
Sunday, August 14
