Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria, known to get better as the Giro d鈥橧talia progresses, moved up six spots Sunday in the overall standings to 16th from 22nd following the individual time trial.
鈥淎 time trial is always important [and] complicated,鈥� said the 35-year-old Trek-Segafredo pro cyclist, in a statement.
Having grown up riding the roads and trails of the Island, you would think Hesjedal would be used to cycling in the driving rain, as he did Sunday. But the time trial is a capricious beast.
鈥淸That was] even more so [Sunday] as the conditions were very dangerous, if you got it wrong,鈥� said Hesjedal.
鈥淭he first goal is to be safe and get through in a good way. At the same time, you have to perform and do a good ride, and I feel I accomplished that.鈥�
Hesjedal completed the 40.5 kilometres in 54:43 and placed 33rd in the time trial heading into Monday鈥檚 rest day. Time-trial winner Primoz Roglic of Slovenia rode in dry conditions earlier in the day and clocked 51:45.
Hesjedal is three minutes and 29 seconds in arrears of pink-jersey wearer Gianluca Brambilla of Italy in the overall standings.
鈥淚t鈥檚 still only Stage 9 and there鈥檚 a long way to go [the 21-stage race concludes May 29],鈥� added the Islander, who won the Giro in 2012 and was fifth last year.
鈥淏ut I had some good signs [Sunday] and that鈥檚 what you want as the race progresses. I was a little bit worried about this time trial, and where it is situated in the race, but it looks like things are going in a good way. If it continues to go that way, then for sure, it is looking promising.鈥�
Today鈥檚 10th stage is 216 kilometres, from Campi Bisenzio to Sestola, and rated as medium mountain.
