Alex Stieda inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame
Former Canadian pro honoured for his long career both on and off the bike
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Alex Stieda/Instagram
The first North American to ever wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France, Alex Stieda, was inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday. The B.C. Sports Hall of Fame posted about the Vancouver-born cyclist, saying “If you’ve ever driven in Coquitlam, you know the hills are steep and long. Thermal Drive, Blue Mountain Street, and others are gut busters. Now imagine biking those hills on a daily basis…after already riding 100 kilometers or more.”
Alex Stieda did that for years, Jason Beck, Curator of the BC Sports Hall of Fame wrote. He would finish long rides back to his house on Gatensbury Street sometimes, completely shattered. But all the hard work paid off: it forged in him a power and endurance foundation that propelled him to the very pinnacle of the cycling world: the yellow leader’s jersey of the Tour de France. Stieda would compete at the 1984 Olympics as well as being a 15-time Canadian national champion.
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In 1986, Stieda got in a breakaway on the first stage of the Tour. With the time bonuses he’d picked up, he would take not only the yellow jersey, the multi-coloured jersey, the red sprint jersey which was the sprint jersey at the time, the king of the mountain classification jersey and the young riders jersey with the effort in his first and only participating in the Tour.
1986 was Stieda’s first year riding professionally with the 7-Eleven team. He would later ride for one of Canada’s top teams, Evian-Miko, and American pro squad, Coors Light.
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After retiring, Stieda would continue to be involved in the sport, and help found races like the Tour of Alberta.
Stieda is still an active cyclist, both indoors and outdoors. ““Any time I’m pedaling, that’s all that matters,” he said. “That feeling of flying.”