By 16 seconds Ryder Hesjedal becomes the 1st Canadian not only to win a Grand Tour but even to be on the podium of a Grand Tour. What a huge accomplishment. This on a weekend when we have riders from our own club racing at Pigeon, at the Summer Solstice XC & the Giver 8'er MTB races and where Tara Whitten won the prologue and headed a podium sweep of the new Exergy Tour. Cycling in Canada is on a roll.
Now some of you who know me, may on occasion have heard me complain about the number of e-mail press releases I get from the Prime Ministers Office. Working in media I get them along with pretty much everyone else in the businesss. The range from about 3 to 8 a day, sometimes there are releases to tell a release is coming, a release to correct a previous release, releases in English telling you a French version is forthcoming.
Today I take back any complaint I have ever made, they can send me this one over and over again and in fact should send every Canadian a copy! (nice that the team got a plug and someone in that office knows a bit about cycling, sweet)
Statement
Date: May 27, 2012
For immediate release
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF ON RYDER HESJEDAL’S Victory at the GIRO D’ITALIA
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement after receiving news that Ryder Hesjedal had won the Giro d’Italia cycling race:
“On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to congratulate Ryder Hesjedal for his amazing victory in the Giro d'Italia, riding for team Garmin-Barracuda. This remarkable win in one of bicycle racing's most grueling competitions is a testimony to Mr. Hesjedal’s training, endurance, skill and competitive spirit.
“It is a particularly proud moment for given that this is the first time in the history of professional cycling that a Canadian has won one of the sport's three grand tours.
“We thank Mr. Hesjedal for this defining moment in Canadian sport and wish him well in his upcoming races, including this year's Tour de France.”
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PMO Press Office: 613-957-5555
This document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca
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2 comments:
He sure scared me on some of those corners this morning, turns out he had to take his chances though - 16 seconds isn't much!
That was too close for me too. Phew. Looking forward to what he does with his new self-confidence.
I'm totally impressed the the PM's knowledge of the sport....
For the youngsters in the crowd, we should also remember Steve Bauer's 4th in Letour. Not bad for a guy who wasn't a climber. And heartbreaking 2nd place finishes in the Olympics and Paris-Roubaix. And DQ in worlds. Not too shabby a Canadian cyclist either - cobbled the way for today's cyclists.
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