June 02, 2013 (Champéry, France) – Canada’s David Veilleux (Europcar) has likely punched his ticket to the Tour the Tour de France with a spectacular victory on Sunday, the biggest win of his career, taking the 121km first stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné, a WorldTour stage race in the heart of the French Alps. Veilleux was a reserve rider for Europcar at last year’s TdF.

Here, where many champions have been born, the Cap-Rouge, Quebec-native attacked his breakaway companions with approximately 45km to go and crossed the finish line solo in 3:17:35, almost two minutes ahead of the chasing pack – read more about the stage victory here.

Veilleux becomes the second Canadian to wear the Dauphiné leader’s jersey, joining the legendary Steve Bauer who won the Prologue in 1989 (Bauer also won Stage 1B at the Dauphiné in 1988). “I’m superhappy for David,” said Bauer. “We’ve been watching him since he was a junior and he was always a huge talent. The best years of his racing career are in front of him – he can do it all and is now likely going to the Tour. He may surprise some people as he defends the jersey at the Dauphiné and we wish him all the best.”

Veilleux distinguished himself winning the Tre Valli Varesine in Italy last year and placed 25th at Paris Roubaix in 2011 (read our interview with him here). We caught up with Veilleux in France following his historic victory today for his take on the race and what lies ahead…

David Veilleux Interview