Staying a champion is a lot harder than becoming a champion.
That is the challenge Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria faces as he looks to defend his Giro d鈥橧talia title beginning Saturday in the second-most important cycling stage race behind the Tour de France.
鈥淚 feel great. Better than I did last year,鈥� said Hesjedal, as he answered questions from media and fans from around the world in a webcast Thursday from Milan.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been an amazing time,鈥� said the Colwood-raised 32-year-old, named the Lionel Conacher Award winner as Canadian athlete of the year for 2012 in national balloting by the Canadian Press.
鈥淚鈥檓 healthy and happy. You can鈥檛 ask for more than that.鈥�
Hesjedal talked of finding 鈥渂alance.鈥�
鈥淚t [rigours of travelling and competing] is easy because I enjoy it,鈥� he said.
The 2013 Giro begins with a 130-kilometre sprint through the streets of Naples on Saturday followed by the team time trial Sunday from Ischia to Forio. The 21-stage race ends May 26 in Brescia.
鈥淗opefully, it will be another exciting race and there will be more to come,鈥� said Hesjedal.
The Belmont grad headlines defending Giro team champion Garmin-Sharp.
鈥淢y season has been built around the Giro again this year with the goal of defending my title, and the whole team is coming into it very focused and extremely motivated,鈥� said Hesjedal, who will wear the Garmin-Sharp team鈥檚 No. 1 bib.
鈥淚 want to do my best to honour the race, to honour the No. 1 bib, and take it from there, day by day.鈥�
A withering challenge is expected for Hesjedal鈥檚 Giro crown, especially from home-nation favourite Vincenzo Nibali of Italy and 2012 London Summer Olympics time-trial gold-medallist Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain.
