Three stages later he helped his squad to a Team Time Trial victory, which put his young teammate Ramunas Navardauskas in the leader’s jersey. Then, on Stage 7 that took the peloton to the small mountain town of Rocca di Cambio, he did what no Canadian has ever done before – he rode into the overall lead and earned the iconic Maglia Rosa, the Giro’s leader’s jersey.
After a successful first defense of the jersey on Stage 8, Pedal spoke to the man who made Canadian cycling history.
Ryder Hesjedal: Thank you!
How does it feel to hear the sentence “Ryder Hesjedal is the first Canadian ever to wear the Maglia Rosa, the Pink Jersey”?
RH: (Laughs.) Yeah, it’s great, I’m definitely proud. It’s nice, I think cycling in Canada is at an all-time high so just to be a part of that and keep it going is a nice feeling.
You began Stage 7 in 3rd at 17 seconds behind the leader Adriano Malori. The stage was described as a “medium mountain stage” – did you imagine you could pick up enough time to take the lead?
RH: Yeah, I think so. It has a good climb to the finish with a hard final approach so I just had to go for it 100% and it worked out. I had a great setup from the team, especially Christian (Vande Velde) in the final there. I just had to go for it in the last part where he dumped me off and I was able to run 5th and make it happen so it was a perfect day.
RH: Oh, it was great, a big relief, definitely from the day before where I was frustrated. I had a good opportunity to take it there so it was nice to stick with it and finally take it. It was a huge relief, and reward, to finally pull it on and even sweeter today to hang on to it and do it again, so it’s been a great couple days and a tough few days. The team’s been excellent. I think we showed our strength today, especially with a hard start to the stage, making the effort, controlling the race and getting a manageable break away and doing our part in the beginning and then letting the other teams with interest take over. All I had to do was hang on in that final – it was tough but I was able to do it. That’s what I was hoping to do to reward the team for the hard work and to keep the jersey so it was perfect again.
What do you and your director Allan Peiper expect this coming week will be like and what it’s going take for the team to hang on to the jersey?
RH: I actually haven’t been looking ahead too much… I’ve been told it’s going to be easier. We have a strong team and I think that the other teams with an interest in the sprints will be keeping the race together and hope that I can keep the jersey for a little while longer.
RH: (Laughs) Oh, they were stoked! I definitely got a lot of compliments out there today, but definitely from those guys, they were very complimentary to me regarding my work so it was nice. It was a tough day out there today, I had to stay focused and didn’t get to enjoy it too much on the road, but it was good in the end.
Of all the countries in the world Italy has to be the country that is most passionate about cycling. What was it like signing in at the start and being at the finish wearing the Maglia Rosa among all the tifosi?
RH: Oh, it’s been incredible. Definitely after the race after the podium I have to hang around and do the interviews and the TV and then doping control and then another press conference – you’re definitely exposed to the fans hanging around and it’s pretty incredible. They just want a piece of the jersey, and it’s all I can do to get through the people that want the photos and stuff to get where I need to be. It’s pretty overwhelming, the passion for it, so it’s a real honour to be in the jersey and to be a part of it.
How excited are Ashley and your parents?
RH: Yeah, it’s been great! Ashley was at the start of the race in Denmark so that was fun. She definitely wishes she could be here but she’s in Girona (Spain, their European home) watching it on TV – so she’s loving it! – read more HERE.
And back home they actually had the Tour de Victoria (Ryder’s benefit mass participation ride pep rally) for the volunteers so that was a fun day to get the jersey for them back home and everyone’s really excited. Nice Mother’s Day treat, too, for my mom – being in Pink is pretty fitting, so it’s all good at the moment!
Good luck or “in bocca al lupo” – I’m sure you hear that – and thanks for your time.
RH: Yeah definitely, it’s nice to hear. Cheers.
