An introspective Ryder Hesjedal reflected on a summer of dramatic highs and wrenching lows, which concluded with the Victoria cycling star finishing 28th in the men's time trial at the 2012 London Summer Olympics.
The 2012 Tour de France champion, Bradley Wiggins, of Great Britain delivered the rapturous host nation a hugely popular gold-medal victory. Wiggins crushed the field, covering the 44-kilometre course around the countryside southwest of London in 50 minutes, 39.54 seconds - 42 seconds faster than second-place Tony Martin of Germany.
Wiggins' countryman, Chris Froome, was third.
"Obviously, I would have liked better results, but at the end of the day, I am pleased that I could represent sa国际传媒 once again on the world stage," said Hesjedal, from London.
The Colwood-raised rider became the first Canadian to win a Grand Tour event when he captured the Giro d'Italia this year before crashing out of the 99th Tour de France following a nasty spill in the sixth stage. He was 63rd last weekend in the London Olympic road race after getting boxed in with the peloton.
"I think completing the Tour would have seen me obtain better condition but I was happy with the training I was able to do leading up to the Games and I gave it my best here," said Hesjedal.
"The [Olympic] road race just didn't play out the way I decided to go with.
And it was always going to be a hard challenge in the time trial. My prediction of four of the six medals up for grabs [combined in the London Olympic road race and time trial] going to Tour de France riders was correct."
Hesjedal is an able time trialist but was always going to be up against it versus the time-trial specialists.
"I am not a time-trial specialist like the riders occupying the top-10 today but I was hopeful to do a good ride," he said.
"I just didn't have the needed form to really place in the time trial, especially as I am not a specialist with the pedigree of the other riders in this one-day format."
Hesjedal, sixth in the 2010 Tour de France, has become sa国际传媒's most famous cyclist yet his three Olympic appearances have proven disappointing. The Islander was the mountain biking 2003 world championship silver medallist and favoured for a medal heading into Athens 2004 but flatted just minutes into the Olympic race in a cruel twist. Hesjedal placed 56th on the road and 16th in the time trial at Beijing 2008.
What Hesjedal will take away from the 2012 London Games are memories of the electric atmosphere.
"The fans for the cycling events was like nothing I have seen before," he said.
"The amount of Canadian flags on the road was special."
There will be plenty for the scrapbook from 2012, even though it did not end the way Hesjedal would have hoped.
"I still couldn't be happier with the season as a whole to date, as I achieved something very special in May [Giro d'Italia title].
What's on my mind now is getting back to Victoria and celebrating with all my supporters."
That happens Aug. 10 in Centennial Square at 4 p.m., with Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin on hand for Hesjedal's public homecoming celebration.
