Time trials聽are a specialty in which Ryder Hesjedal has聽proven so proficient over his career. But they inexplicably continue to haunt the Victoria聽cycling star聽in the 2013 Giro d鈥橧talia.
The defending Giro champion was 18th in the 54.8-kilometre individual time trial Saturday in the rolling hills from Gabicce Mare to Saltara.
That dropped the three-time Olympian from third to sixth in the overall standings after eight stages.
Alex Dowsett of Great Britain won the time trial in 1:16.27 for his first career Grand Tour stage win. Hesjedal was 2:23 in arrears of Dowsett鈥檚 time. sa国际传媒鈥檚 best time trial rider, Svein Tuft of Langley, was 34th and 3:40 behind Dowsett.
Hesjedal鈥檚 individual time trial result came after a disappointing result in the team time trial, which took place last weekend on the second day of the Giro. Hesjedal is the lead rider for defending Giro team champion Garmin-Sharp. But Garmin-Sharp, last year鈥檚 team time trial winner, was shunted to a stunning seventh place in this year鈥檚 TTT, well behind the victorious Team Sky of Great Britain.
The time trials, both individual and team, have聽been costly for Hesjedal this past week but not disastrous as he manages to stay in the top-10 overall, two minutes and five seconds behind leader Vincenzo Nibali of Italy.
There were 22 teams and 207 riders from 31 nations that began the 2013 Giro, the annual event 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 to make the podium of a Grand Tour event.
Today鈥檚 170-kilometre medium-mountain ninth stage is from Sansepolcro to Florence. Monday is the first rest day. The 10th stage Tuesday 鈥� 167 kilometres from Cordenons to Altopiano del Montasio and the first full-on mountain stage 鈥� could prove the breakthrough moment for Hesjedal, who is a noted climber.
The 21-stage Giro concludes May 26 in Brescia.
