February 19, 2004 For the first time in the history of cycling in Canada, a male tandem team, Stephane Cote and his pilot Pierre-Olivier Boily, has been ranked first in road racing by the International Cycling Union (ICU), according to its February 16, 2004 standings. The duo earned this honour as a result of a compilation of results going back over three years of international competition. Their recent gold medal at the 2003 European Championships in Prague was definitely a major factor.

For Chicoutimi's Stephane Cote, this honour will certainly bring the team respect from the competition. “The standings confirm that our performance in the Czech Republic was not just luck. Now we will gain even more respect. The Dutch and the Spanish already had us in their crosshairs. Also, this honour helps reward the efforts we put out during our lengthy preparation for the Paralympics”, the visually impaired pointed out, referring to their Trinidad, Cuba, training camp.

Pilot Pierre-Olivier Boily, who hails from Roberval, has no intention of letting their growing list of honours diminish his drive: “Those are only numbers. We're happy to be considered, but we're not going to act as if we were the gods of cycling”, laughed the athlete.

Louis Barbeau, chef of mission of the Canadian Paralympic team for Athens, the man who discovered Cote, feels that the duo's accomplishment is beyond the ordinary. “It's a major feat, says he – Dutch rider Jan Mulder, behind different pilots, had been alone at the top of this class for a long time; in fact, Mulder still holds the world pursuit track record. There is no doubt that in this Paralympic year, Pierre-Olivier and Stephane are the tandem team to beat!”