Three Quebec cyclists will eventually compete in the 109th Tour de France with the last minute addition of Guillaume Boivin. This is a first for cycling in Quebec at the world’s greatest race. He will eventually replace Omer Goldstein in the Israel-Premier Tech squad.
• Also read: The Tour de France 2022: in the world capital of cycling
• Also read: A win for his mother who has cancer
Boivin, 33, had finished the 2021 Tour de France in 105th place.
The team said Goldstein was at high risk for transmission of COVID-19 due to the close contact.
Boivin, who was initially left out of the grid, returned home to compete in the Canadian Championships road race where he finished 2nd on Sunday.
However, as the first substitute, he had little hope of a call from his leaders. He should land in Denmark on Thursday morning. The start of stage one is on Friday at 2:30pm for a short 13km time trial in downtown Copenhagen.
Another team color bearer, Daryl Impey, is in a similar situation, but a decision on his attendance will be made Thursday.
Boivin will join Hugo Houle and Michael Woods at Israel-Premier Tech. For his part, Antoine Duchesne will represent the Groupama FDJ team.
In this unprecedented situation, four Canadians will be at the start, including three Quebecers.