KM0: Alex Stieda: Morning Glory, Afternoon Survival

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In the final part of our trilogy remembering the 1986 Tour de France, Lionel Birnie speaks to the Canadian rider Alex Stieda.

In 1986, the 7-Eleven team became the first American squad to ride the Tour and Stieda was the lone Canadian, alongside eight from the USA and a Mexican to line up for the prologue in the west of Paris.

As he was wearing No.210 – the last man on the huge start list – he was first to roll down the start ramp for the opening time trial. He set a great time too, and ended the stage in 21st place.

But it was the following day that he was to make Canadian cycling history. It was a split stage, with a short road race in the morning and the team time trial in the afternoon.

And for Stieda he experienced the extremes of the Tour de France in a single day – floating on top of the world in the morning, and racing for survival in the afternoon...

This episode was produced by Huw Owen.