Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria continued his furious charge from mere afterthought last weekend, to one of the main talking points of the 2015 Giro d鈥橧talia.
Showing his noted climbing credentials, the 2012 Giro champion took it upon himself with less than 10 kilometres remaining to breakaway and attack the Matterhorn-adjacent summit finish at Cervinia alone. But the 34-year-old Cannondale-Garmin pro cyclist was followed and overtaken with six kilometres remaining by Fabio Aru of Italy as Hesjedal settled for second place in the lengthy 236-kilometre 19th stage Friday, 28 seconds behind Aru.
鈥淸Hesjedal] raced to win,鈥� said Cannondale-Garmin race director Charly Wegelius, in a statement.
鈥淲e always do. The objective was to win the stage, but the effort was ideal. It鈥檚 clear how strong Ryder is. Of course, we wanted the win, but what Ryder did today, and the strength he showed to move up two spots on the general classification [overall standings], was exceptional.鈥�
Especially considering Hesjedal, now seventh overall, was mired in 29th place last week and 42nd after the first few stages.
The 199-kilometre 20th stage today, from Saint Vincent to Sestriere, features a climb to the highest peak in this year鈥檚 Giro.
鈥淩yder is one of the best uphill, and I look at the next days really positively. Day in and day out, Ryder is riding at such a high level. It gives us reason to be optimistic,鈥� said Wegelius earlier, regarding the late mountain stages.
The 98th Giro, 3,482 kilometres over 21 stages, concludes Sunday with a final stage from Turin to Milan.
The Islander, and three-time Olympian for sa国际传媒, is too far behind and has no realistic chance of overtaking overall Giro leader Alberto Contador of Spain. But Hesjedal still has created quite a buzz over the final week with a push that might see him into the top-five.
Giro highlights play on a constant loop in the Trek cycle story in Victoria. It鈥檚 background noise, but it has people looking up and taking notice.
鈥淲e knew it was going to be an ending like this. When Ryder gets behind, that鈥檚 like fuel for him,鈥� said Troy Woodburn, owner of the Victoria Trek store and close friend of Hesjedal鈥檚.
鈥淩yder can dig deep. He always gets stronger at the end. That鈥檚 why they attack him earlier. It鈥檚 a shame he lost time at the beginning.鈥�
Particularly costly in the early stages was the five minutes lost when Hesjedal, who likes to ride near the back of the peloton, got caught behind a crash and pile-up ahead of him.
But rallies are nothing new for Hesjedal, who was fifth in the 2010 Tour de France before becoming the first Canadian to win a Grand Tour cycling event when he captured the 2012 Giro. The Colwood-raised, Belmont graduate, who began as mountain biker on the Hartland trails, fought back for a ninth-place overall finish in last year鈥檚 Giro after again being counted out following a hard crash to the pavement in the first stage.
This year鈥檚 annual hometown mass participation Ryder Hesjedal鈥檚 Tour de Victoria is scheduled for Aug. 23.
