We Will Never Be Here Again: Adventures in cycling from the wilderness to the Tour de France

Svein Tuft is one of Canada’s most decorated cyclists — a Tour de France stage winner, wearer of the Giro d’Italia’s pink jersey, world championships medallist and Olympian. But that’s only half the story.
Before he ever turned pro, Tuft lived a wild, unconventional life in the vast wilderness of the Pacific Northwest. His early years were shaped by death‑defying mountain expeditions, boxcar‑hopping journeys, close encounters with wildlife and long stretches spent navigating remote backcountry with only his loyal dog, Bear, by his side.
This is one of sport’s great untold stories: how a singular athlete was forged not in velodromes or training camps, but in rugged landscapes and hard‑won solitude. Tuft’s journey from wilderness wanderer to world‑class cyclist is a testament to resilience, instinct and an unshakeable sense of adventure — and to a man who reached the top without ever losing sight of the view.