After wowing the cycling world with third in June’s Critérium du Dauphiné, Derek Gee of Israel-Premier Tech, in his Tour de France debut, finished the race ninth on general classification, the third highest finish for a Canadian after Steve Bauer’s fourth in 1988 and Ryder Hesjedal’s fifth in 2010. Bauer, who was one of the Israel-Premier Tech directeur sportifs this July, also posted tenth in 1984.
Gee’s Tour accomplishment comes 14 months after his memorable Grand Tour debut at the 2023 Giro d’Italia, where he was runner-up four times and fourth twice, winning the combativity award and coming second in both the points and mountains competitions.
At the Tour, Gee’s third place on Stage 9 into Troyes was his highest placing. He never finished a stage lower than 59th. It was after Troyes that he first reached ninth. After two days at 11th, Gee seized ninth back on Stage 13 before jumping up to 8th in the Alps for a day. Gee was never lower than 28th overall. His time trial game was very tight: 14th on Stage 7 and sixth in the concluding chrono.
Gee will represent Canada at the Paris Olympic Games, racing the men’s time trial on July 27 and the road race on August 3.
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