Defending Giro d鈥橧talia champion Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria calls it 鈥渉eartbreaking鈥� and 鈥渄evastating.鈥�
Fans and observers sensed something was off.
Hesjedal confirmed their suspicions by withdrawing from the 2013 Giro cycling race, citing illness.
鈥淚 want to be here for my team [Garmin-Sharp] and for all the people who have supported me to get me here to this point,鈥� said Hesjedal, in a statement.
鈥淚 built my entire season around the Giro and I came here feeling great, but I have been suffering since the time trial. We鈥檙e working on it, but we鈥檙e not sure what鈥檚 wrong. There鈥檚 a virus that鈥檚 been going around, so it could be that, or severe allergies. Or going too deep on the time trial combined with both. Whatever it is, I鈥檓 only getting worse.鈥�
The issue came to a head after the eighth stage as Hesjedal聽could generate聽no power in his legs for the climbs in the ninth, 10th and 11th stages.
鈥淸Thursday鈥檚 11th] stage was just too much for me,鈥� said Hesjedal.
鈥淚 fought to get through it. After seeing the medical staff last night, I know that it鈥檚 time for me to go home, get some tests done and get healthy again.鈥�
Hesjedal also had to suddenly depart the 2012 Tour de France after suffering injuries during a fall. Those may have affected him during his sub-par road and time-time performances in the 2012 London Summer Olympics.
But he was back and looking in form and healthy as he prepared to defend his Giro title this spring as the lead rider for Garmin-Sharp.
鈥淚 have tried my best to honour the No. 1 bib, the race, my team and fans and its devastating to leave this way,鈥� said the Colwood-raised 32-year-old.
鈥淕oing home now is heartbreaking. I鈥檓 very proud of the team. These guys gave everything to help me. I couldn鈥檛 ask for better teammates and I know that they鈥檒l continue to do great things here at the Giro.鈥�
The 21-stage Giro concludes May 26 in Brescia.
Reaction in the Island cycling community was one of resignation tinged with understanding about the situation.
鈥淭here are a lot of disappointed people around here,鈥� admitted two-time Olympian Seamus McGrath, director of the annual Ryder Hesjedal鈥檚 Tour de Victoria. Hesjedal is scheduled to ride in his namesake event Sept. 22 around the streets of Greater Victoria.
鈥淏ut we all realize what a champion Ryder is and just how hard the Giro is to ride. He was in the top-three overall in the first week and looked unstoppable. But these guys are riding on such a fine line. If you are just one or two per cent off, it鈥檚 over. We feel Ryder鈥檚 pain.鈥�
Hesjedal is resigned to his Giro fate as he hopes to be ready for July鈥檚 Tour de France.
鈥淣ow, I鈥檒l go home, focus on recovering,鈥� he said.
鈥淎nd take things day by day.鈥�
Pending recovery, some are anticipating a big Tour de France for Hesjedal.
鈥淭his will motivate him even more for the Tour, an event in which he has had success before [Hesjedal was a breakthrough sixth in the 2010 Tour],鈥� noted McGrath.
鈥淸Resting and readying for the Tour] is now his intention.鈥�
The Garmin鈥揝harp team physician, Shannon Sovndal, said Hesjedal has no alternative but to pull out of the Giro.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been trying to uncover what鈥檚 going on with Ryder,鈥� said Sovndal.
鈥淗e came into the race in stellar form, ready to defend his title, and clearly he鈥檚 been suffering since the time trial. His condition is not improving so we decided it鈥檚 time for him to go home, get testing done, and focus on getting healthy again.鈥�
The Giro, one of the three European races that comprise the Grand Tour, is considered the second most important cycling stage race behind the Tour de France.
In winning the individual championship last year in the Giro, Hesjedal became the first Canadian ever to make the podium of a Grand Tour event. It鈥檚 an accomplishment that earned the Islander the 2012 Lionel Conacher Award as sa国际传媒鈥檚 male athlete of the year as voted on by the member newspapers and radio and TV stations of the Canadian Press and Broadcast News.
Also pulling out of the Giro because of illness was defending Tour de France champion and London Olympics time-trial gold-medallist Sir Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain.
