In what has been a long time coming for Canadian cycling, Hugo Uhl broke a 34-year record of missing out on a stage win at the Tour de France in Foix on Tuesday, soloing home from a breakaway group after attacking on the steep slopes of the Mûr de Peguerre.

The Quebec native, who had won two Canadian Time Trial titles before going solo about 40 km from the finish, broke away from a large breakaway group just four days after coming close to victory in Saint-Etienne.

It was the first time a Canadian had won a stage of the Tour since 1988, and Steve Bauer has held that honor for more than 30 years, since his opening stage victory in Mashcool.

Bauer is now the director sportif of Israel's premier tech team, and was in the car behind Houle after his historic victory.

After the stage, Cycling News spoke with Bauer about the first Canadian to win a Tour stage in a long time.

"That's what they say. I think they're probably right. It was too long. It was too long," Bauer said on Fowa's Israeli premier tech bus.

"I can't believe it. Hugo was a top professional. He has always been the top team man for the leaders, and he has done his job day in and day out. He's a top professional.

"He studies the plan well and organizes himself well. He had a chance to win the race and he was super strong. He was smart and ran strong.

Bauer will be the team's new DS from 2022 and will be in the team car with Zach Dempster, and the two coaches will advise Houle and Woods during the 178.5 km stage, the second stage after Simon Clark on stage 5 in Allenberg victory and Woods' third place.

"I was with Zack. I'm very happy to have been able to follow the break without the two Canucks. They trusted my voice on the radio and I gave them my best information." [After a great day like Hugo's, it's always emotional to run the last kilometer. I'm so proud of him and what he accomplished.

"It's great to win one race. I've only won one Tour and it's a great feeling." It's something Hugo has been waiting for for a long time and I knew he could do it. Today was his day."

Bauer acknowledged that the team was running for Woods. Woods might have been expected to join the top contenders out of the break on the tough gradient to the top of the Mûr de Péguerre. However, after breaking away from the pack on the Porte de Res, it was Woolf who quickly broke away with a breakaway to the climb.

"I was a little bit behind on the descent of the Porte de l'Ere and Woods was in front of me and he was asking, 'Should I go?' 'Should I bridge?'" explained Bauer.

"I said, 'Well, let the guys do most of it, but come back,' and he bridged across. I don't know how he did it, but it was very smart of him to attack right away and make everyone fall back."

"Michal was there and was game for the last climb of the stage, especially the last steep mar. Hugo was strong and was part of the break during this time. We need that and then he can achieve great things."

Houle, the stage winner, said it was "crazy" to be the first Canadian to win a stage in the Tour in a long time. He added that he hopes his team, owned by Canadian-born Sylvan Adams, co-sponsored by Canadian company Premier Tech, and employing several Canadian backroom staff, will foster the next generation of Canadian cyclists.

"It's crazy," he said. 'Thanks to our team, Premier Tech, and the Premier Tech development team, we're getting more and more Canadians on the World Tour. We're working to raise the next generation."

"I think what I accomplished today is an inspiration of what is possible. For me, David Veilleux, who wore the yellow jersey at the 2013 Criterium du Dauphiné a few years ago, showed me the way.

"It's been a year since I've seen my parents and family because I have to be in Europe for the race. I was motivated by the fact that I won a stage at the Tour. I'm happy to win for the Canadiens and Steve Bauer radioed to me in the car, 'Have fun, have fun. I was still running full throttle and he said, 'Take it easy.

"It was nice to have time to have fun, and I hope more Canadians win sooner than in '34."