August 3, 2003 – Alex Stieda was one of Canada's best road racers in the eighties and early nineties. Stieda's biggest claim to fame is becoming the first North American to ever wear the Yellow Jersey in the Tour de France. 1986 marked the so-called “American Invasion” of the Tour because not only did the U.S team 7-11 become the first Yankee team in the Tour, but La Vie Claire's Greg LeMond from the USA, won the Tour with teammate and fellow American, Andy Hampsten, coming fourth.

Pedal: Tell us about that magical first stage and your breakaway which won you the Maillot Jaune…

Stieda: In the prologue I was 17th, about 20 seconds down. It had been a real pursuiter's course with tight turns and I felt good. At the start of the first road stage (it was a double-stage day) everyone was nervous for the short 80k race. After a few kms I noodled up the side of the road and just took off. Pretty soon I had a five-minute lead and I took all the time bonuses. Before the end I was caught by a chase group led by Panasonic's Phil Anderson. He told me I am the virtual yellow jersey. I was totally max'ed out from the effort but our group just managed to stay ahead. Och, my director sportif (Jim Ochowiz) was thrilled – so was I. I ended up taking not only the Yellow, but the Red Catch sprints, the White for best young rider, the Polka Dot and the Performance best all-round jersey. The only thing I missed out on that day was the Green points jersey. It was totally unpredicted and our whole team was really thrilled.

Pedal: But the team time trial a few hours later was pretty tough?

Stieda: Oh yeah. Like I said, I was max'ed out after the first stage. I just sat in the shade and tried to recover from the effort and the heat. We did the TTT later that day on our “time trial bikes” which weren't funny bikes like the other squads – just road bikes with disc wheels, I think. Anyway, we hadn't practised much and came apart, with me and Jeff Pierce getting dropped and just finishing in the time limit. It was a pretty rough day for our team in general – I remember Doug Shapiro and Alexi Grewal were yelling at each other in the TTT and Doug even threw a bottle at him. But I did keep the Polka Dot jersey for five days after that. And Davis Phinney won the next day. I remember a lot of French press, and Euros in general were just astonished and surprised at what we (7-11) did that year.

Pedal: You own and operate a bike tour company now that goes to the Tour de France. Tell us what you think of the Tour de France now – has it changed?

Stieda: Yes, it really has. It's grown unimaginably. I mean, it was a big bike race when we did it – but now there is just so much more money involved and it shows. The entire organization has become more expansive and more professional. Even things like the team presentations or jersey presentations is much bigger compared to when I did it. We had more of the standard Euro-race set up to do that kind of stuff – a tractor trailer and a podium kind of thing. Sure, there were the usual former racer/dignitaries who were there presenting jerseys – but now it's much bigger.

Pedal: How are your bike tours going? What would you say makes your tours stand out aside from the fact that you are an ex-pro?

Stieda: Well I hope to really grow the tours, coupled with the personal training that I do in the fall, into something that can really make them special. The groups for one thing are small and personable, which creates a lot more flexibility. Each night before we head out I give the group a few options and that way they don't end up following an agenda or schedule they don't feel like doing. This flexibility works really well. And yes, for sure the fact I have raced some of the stages, or been in some of the towns, helps as it adds a special flavour to the rides we do and what not.

Pedal: Thanks a lot for sharing the memories and passion Alex.

Stieda: Any time.