Quebec cyclist Hugo Houle finished third in the 13e stage of the Tour de France, narrowly missing the first stage victory for a Canadian in 34 years.
The rider from the Israel-Premier Tech team, originally from Sainte-Perpétue, was in the group of three riders who broke away from the peloton with 20 kilometers to go in the stage.
Danish rider Mads Pedersen launched a sprint 300 meters from the finish and held on until the finish to claim victory in four hours, 13 minutes and three seconds, just ahead of Briton Frank Wright and Houle.
This is the third stage victory in four days for the Danish cyclists.
Houle’s previous best stage result at the Tour de France was a seventh-place finish on stage 12 of the race in 2020.
The only Canadian to win a stage in the Tour de France is Steve Bauer, who won the first stage in 1988. Bauer is the sporting director of Israel-Premier Tech.
Pederson, a one-day classics specialist, was crowned world champion in 2019. He also won Ghent-Wevelgem two years ago but had never tasted victory in a Grand Tour.
After two days of considerable effort in the Alps, race leader Jonas Vingaard enjoyed a quiet day in the peloton, well protected by his Jumbo-Visma teammates.
The double reigning champion Tadej Pogacar, who gave up the yellow jersey during the first big mountain stage at the Col du Granon, did nothing to destabilize Vingaard during this 193 kilometer stage which started in Bourg d’Oisans. .
Their battle is set to resume next week in the Pyrenees before the race ends in Paris in nine days.