Imagining a Canadian nat’l team for the Tour de France

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 Mattias Skjelmose. Interestingly, it would be Tadej Pogačar —the winner of the Triple Crown and arguably one of the greatest male cyclists ever,  would suffer from a national team format. Although there are seven Slovenians in the WorldTour—including Primož Roglič, Jan Tratnik, and Matej Mohorič—they’d need to fill their roster with a Continental rider. At the Conti level, races are shorter, and although definitely tough, not nearly the same as WorldTour events.

Our country would face a similar situation as Slovenia. So what would a Team Canada look like at the Tour de France if this format happened?

Team Canada at the Tour de France Femmes

The Canadian women’s team for the Tour could be a very exciting prospect. If, say, it happened in 2025, Cycling Canada would have an abundance of top-quality riders to choose from. Movistar’s Olivia Baril would have to be the GC leader, you’d think—but Bella Holmgren from Lidl Trek would be a great choice as co-leader/back-up rider for the overall. Although Bella has less experience at the WT level, she did impress at the Tour de l’Avenir. That is the younger sibling of the TdF. Her sister Ava would also be a good rider to add to the roster, given her punchy, strong style of racing.

Bella Holmgren second overall at Tour de l’Avenir, wears polka dots

Of course, we’d want Paris-Roubaix-winner Alison Jackson there. And it’s not just for her to continue her love of baguettes and French pastries—she’s also won a stage of a Grand Tour, the La Vuelta Femenina. Another great climber, Magdeleine Vallieres (EF-Oatly-Cannondale), would have to be there, perhaps to support Baril or go for the polka dots. Let’s not forget the fast stages. For that, Maggie Coles-Lyster has to be there. The former world champ and track star, who will ride for Human Powered Health the next few years, would definitely be a contender for stage wins and possibly the green jersey.

The Tour de France Femmes has 7-rider rosters—versus the men’s 8—so that means that several riders that would be a great addition might be alternates.  And of course, there’s also Giro d’Italia stage winner Clara Emond, as well as Uno-X’s Simone Boilard. Lots of talented riders to choose from. Up-and-coming Canadians like Sarah Van Dam, Nadia Gontova, and Mara Holdan would be great reserves, but give them a few years and they may very well be toeing the line. The Canadian pro women’s scene is thriving, so selection would be tough–perhaps a sign of a good thing.

Team Canada at the men’s Tour de France

Derek Gee would be Team Canada’s team leader, given his extraordinary 9th place at the Tour in 2024. But Tour de France stage winner and current national road champion Mike Woods, and Israel Premier Tech teammate, would also be there as his faithful lieutenant, and perhaps to also go for another stage win. In fact, you’d want all of the IPT Canucks on the squad, as they are the majority of Canadian men at the WorldTour.

A deep, deep, deep dive into Derek Gee

Given the longer distances and higher levels, Continental riders would have a tough time with the three-week Tour. So of course, we’d add on Hugo Houle, also a Tdf stage winner, hardman Guillaume Boivin. Pier-André Côté, who will upgrade to the WorldTour in 2025, would be another welcome addition, and it would be great to see the maple leaf jersey in the time trials of the Tour, of which he is the national champion.

WorldTour riders FTW

Just like Bella Holmgren, the remaining Canadian WorldTour rider, Michael Leonard of Ineos Grenadiers, would be there. He took the prologue win at the men’s Tour de l’Avenir and showed his robustness in a long break at the Grand Prix de Montreal. Every year he rides at the WT level, he keeps getting stronger, so the super-talented rider would be perfect for a 2025 edition.

Just Mike Woods eating out of a plastic container during the worlds

With two spots left for the team, you’d think former national champion Nickolas Zukowsky, who is now teammates with Tom Pidcock at Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, should make the cut. His team may very well do the Tour next year as it is, given the addition of the Brit. The final rider to make the team might be IPT’s fastman Riley Pickrell, who may not be a green jersey contender yet—could certainly be up there in the sprint stages. He knows his way in the sprints in the big races and could surprise.

Yeah, this may never happen, but it’s a fun hypothetical thought experiment. Considering the drought of male riders who even race the Tour de France after the glory years of Steve Bauer and the first North American rider to wear the yellow jersey, Alex Stieda. Having a full team of Canucks would be wild.