July 23, 2013 – The Canadian Olympic Committee and Cycling Canada both released statements of congratulations to the three Canadian riders who recently competed in, and successfully completed the 100^th edition of cycling’s showcase race. Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria, B.C., finished best among the Canadians with a 70th-place finish; Cap-Rouge native David Veilleux, the first-ever Quebec-born cyclist to ride in the Tour de France, finished in 123^rd place; and Svein Tuft of Langley, B.C., finished 169th.

“Like all Canadians, I am delighted and proud to hear that three of our nation’s cyclists completed the prestigious Tour de France race. This is a race that is intensely demanding, spanning a total of more than 3,000kms in just over three weeks. To have three of our athletes prove their mettle in some of Europe’s most grueling race conditions is an incredible feat. On behalf of the Canadian Olympic Committee, congratulations to Ryder, David and Svein on representing our country with such pride and determination.”

“We are very proud of these three Canadian riders at the Tour de France. Crossing the finish line of the Tour de France is a remarkable feat, and we should all be proud of them. Cycling in Canada has grown exponentially in the recent years, and have three Canadian taking part in the tour is a testament to the growth of cycling.”

“With the depth that we are continuing to build, we expect to see more Canadians on the start line in future years.”

– Jacques Landry, High Performance Director and Head Coach, Cycling Canada