RYDER HESJEDAL MOVES INTO 7TH
Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria continued his furious charge from mere afterthought last weekend, to one of the main talking points of the 2015 Giro d’Italia.
Showing his noted climbing credentials, the 2012 Giro champion took it upon himself with less than 10 kilometres remaining to breakaway and attack the summit finish at Cervinia alone. But the 34-year-old Cannondale-Garmin pro cyclist was followed and overtaken with six kilometres remaining by Fabio Aru of Italy. Hesjedal settled for second place in the lengthy 236-kilometre 19th stage Friday, 28 seconds behind Aru.
“[Hesjedal] raced to win,” said Cannondale-Garmin race director Charly Wegelius, in a statement.
“We always do. The objective was to win the stage, but the effort was ideal. It’s clear how strong Ryder is. Of course, we wanted the win, but what Ryder did today, and the strength he showed to move up two spots on the general classification [overall standings], was exceptional.”
Especially considering Hesjedal, now seventh overall, was mired in 29th place last week and 42nd after the first few stages.
The 199-kilometre 20th stage today, from Saint Vincent to Sestriere, features a climb to the highest peak in this year’s Giro.
“Ryder is one of the best uphill, and I look at the next days really positively. Day in and day out, Ryder is riding at such a high level. It gives us reason to be optimistic,” said Wegelius earlier week, regarding the late mountain stages.
The 98th Giro, 3,482 kilometres over 21 stages, concludes Sunday with a final stage from Turin to Milan.
Hesjedal, a three-time Olympian for Canada, has no realistic chance of overtaking overall Giro leader Alberto Contador of Spain. But the Islander still has created quite a buzz over the final week with a push that might see him into the top-five.
Giro highlights play on a constant loop in the Trek cycle story in Victoria. It’s background noise, but it has people looking up and taking notice.
“We knew it was going to be an ending like this. When Ryder gets behind, that’s like fuel for him,” said Troy Woodburn, owner of the Victoria Trek store and a close friend of Hesjedal’s.
“Ryder can dig deep. He always gets stronger at the end. That’s why they attack him earlier. It’s a shame he lost time at the beginning.”
Particularly costly in the early stages were the five minutes lost when Hesjedal, who likes to ride near the back of the peloton, got caught behind a crash and pile-up ahead of him.
But rallies are nothing new for Hesjedal, who finished fifth in the 2010 Tour de France before becoming the first Canadian to win a Grand Tour cycling event when he captured the 2012 Giro. The Colwood-raised, Belmont graduate, who began as mountain biker on the Hartland trails, fought back for a ninth-place overall finish in last year’s Giro after again being counted out following a hard crash in the first stage.
This year’s annual hometown mass participation Ryder Hesjedal’s Tour de Victoria is scheduled for Aug. 23.