What if Canada had its own national team at the Tour de France? While it may seem far-fetched today, it was once a reality in the race’s history. From 1931 to 1961, the Tour de France was organized around national teams, with riders competing for their country’s pride, not a corporate sponsor. Nowadays, the only time we see riders in national kits is at the world championships or the Olympics, where athletes, usually rivals, briefly unite under a common flag.
The six Canadian riders who made history at the Tour de France Feminin
However, there have been times when the blue, white, and red have ridden in the Tour de France. In 1984, a group of Canadian women who had never raced together as a team arrived in Paris, wide-eyed and full of optimism, to compete in the first Tour de France Féminin since 1955. Those riders were Jacqueline Shaw, Kelly-Ann Way, Suzanne Lemieux, Marilyn Trout (née Wells), Senta Bauermeister, and Hilary Brown (née Matte). Although the women’s Tour de France would have various incarnations over the years—some only lasting a day—it wasn’t until 2021 that the Tour de France Femmes was properly revived as a counterpart to the men’s Tour.
The prospect of national teams at the Tour
Calls to revive the national team structure occasionally resurface, but it’s hard to imagine it ever happening again. The modern Tour is built around massive corporate investment and sponsorships, making it almost impossible to return to the old system. Even David Lappartient, current UCI president, floated the idea during his time as head of the French Cycling Federation. He proposed 25 national teams of eight riders each, but it never materialized. Even so, the idea of a Canadian national team racing in the Tour de France remains an exciting thought.
Although it’s a very cool idea, there would be other problems apart from the fact that trade team affiliations would be put aside for the biggest race in the world. Sure, at the world championships, riders on rival teams will (as a matter of pride) ride for their fellow countrymen/countrywomen, but that’s just for a day. What about for a week?
The leagues of nations
There’s also a question of depth. Countries like Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands would be fine with the number of WorldTour pros who would fill their roster. Even Jonas Vingegaard’s Danish team—a country of just 5 million people—has all sorts of talent like Mads Pedersen, Magnus Cort, or Mathias…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…