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For 10 years, Hugo Houle promised he’d win a TdF stage for his brother

Pierrik Houle was killed by a drunk driver a decade ago

Hugo Houle points in sky after winning stage Photo by: Sirotti
July 19, 2022
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Hugo Houle took the greatest win of his life on Tuesday with an incredible stage win, and he did it for his brother. On December 21, 2012, his younger brother Pierrik died, killed by a drunk driver while jogging through Sainte-Perpétue, Quebec. Hugo had just returned from Europe after riding as a stagiaire with the AG2R La Mondiale team.

Today, Houle made history by becoming  only the second rider in Canadian history to win a road race at the Tour. Houle is now in good company with Steve Bauer, his directeur sportif, who won way back in 1988. The Israel-Premier Tech won stage 16 in glorious style, with an impressive solo move.

Houle was solo on Mur de Péguère with 30 seconds over Tony Gallopin and 52 seconds ahead of a group of five, including his IPT teammate, Michael Woods. Eventually, Woods would escape with Matteo Jorgenson. The duo was sometimes only half a minute away from Houle–entirely because of Jorgenson, since Woods was not going to chase him down. In the final 10 km. Jorgenson would falter on one of the corners, which would seal the deal for Houle.

When Houle crossed the line his hand was pointing in the sky. He never gave up his dream of winning for Pierrik. For ten years, he swore he would win a stage of the tour for his brother.

“I could not believe it when I crossed the line. I was just so happy. It was what I have been dreaming of for the past ten years. This one is for my brother,” Houle said.

His move was meant to help set up Woods for the stage, but once he realized he had a good gap, he started to think of the win.

“When I attacked it was basically to set the table for Mike Woods and when I saw that they let me go, Mike made a gap, I just went all in. I went full gas. You never know how it will turn out in the breakaway. Sometimes you need some luck. I mean I was strong and everything went smoothly. I said ‘Ok I am really tired but if I go up the road then it’s easier for Mike’. Nobody wanted to commit and the gap was 40 seconds, then 30 seconds. And then it was just a time trial to the end, all or nothing.”

For Houle, today is a dream came true. He fulfilled his promise to his brother with a beautiful and touching victory salute. It was an emotional finish for the rider as he pointed to the heavens, dedicating the win to Pierrik.

“I had one dream: win a stage for my brother who died when I turned professional. Today I won it for him. I worked hard for ten years and today I got the win for him. It’s incredible, I don’t know what to say. I’m just so happy.”