May 04, 2012 – Ryder Hesjedal has developed into one of the leaders for team Garmin-Barracuda in both one-day Classics and stage races. He just came off a solid week at the Ardennes Classics, finishing 15th at Amstel Gold, 21st in Flèche Wallonne after being in a late 2-man attack, and 9th at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Pedal spoke to Ryder by phone during the Tour of Romandie.
Hi Ryder, how are you doing?
Ryder Hesjedal: Hey Amy, good, thanks.
Where are you? Somewhere in Switzerland, no doubt?
RH: Yeah, I’m not sure! (Laughs)
First, tell me a bit about your exciting off-season!
RH: Yeah, that was great! Got married on December 17th so that was nice and basically just kind of carried our honeymoon through Christmas and New Year, so just taking advantage of that time of the year, taking it easy before the new year so that was a really nice way to end the year, to say the least.
Did you honeymoon in Maui?
RH: Yeah, just back to the house. So good beachin’, good bikin’ and just enjoying ourselves! And then it was back to cycling.
RH: I had a bit of a late start but began my season earlier with the Tour Down Under. I wasn’t at a super high level there and was just using the race to support the team and just really combined that with good training in January. Then I went back to Hawaii after Down Under and stayed there for a month for more base training and didn’t head to Europe until the end of February.
I just started slowly with a one-day race in Almería (Clásica de Almería) and then Eroica (Strade Bianche) and then my first Stage Race was (Volta a) Catalunya. So just getting the racing going a bit later and a bit slower buildup for the main goals of the season. But already by Pays Basque I was feeling good and riding at the front there in some tough conditions. So I was pleased at my level there based on the racing beforehand and the Classics went well.
I wasn’t sure how it would go just based on the lower training load. And I hadn’t done anything close to over 200km before Amstel so that’s a big difference, 260k in a one-day Classic, but I was able to be in the front group on the Cauberg. I was just missing a little bit of depth and power for the final there but I was happy to get there. It’s no small feat to arrive at the bottom of the Cauberg in the front. For that day we were able to put (teammate) Fabian (Wegmann) in 8th and we had a few guys up there, so that was a great start to the Ardennes.
Three days later you raced at Flèche Wallonne, up the Mur de Huy three times in the rain, and you and Lars Petter Nordhaug (Team Sky) attacked with 7.5km to go.
RH: Flèche went well, I was already happy, I knew I had good condition so I took a chance in Flèche and went on the attack. We had enough cards to play with our team behind with Dan (Martin) and Fabian and Christophe (Le Mevel) for that final so I figured I’d take my chance and see if I could shake it up. It was a good sign of my condition as well, what I was able to do.
You were away for about 10 minutes. How long did those 10 minutes seem, and did you think the two of you could stay away?
RH: (Laughs)… that’s a tough final and different this year than the last couple of years. It’s a tall order definitely to get enough time on a strong, smart peloton, especially with favourites like (Katusha’s Joaquim) Rodriguez and company controlling the race but I think we gave it a good a shot. We definitely needed more than 13 seconds I think, but I was happy with my resistance on that climb based on that effort. I was 18 seconds back after getting swamped with 300 (meters) to go. So maybe if I’d had 25 seconds it would have been possible. But you never know unless you try, so it was worth it to take a chance.
RH: Yeah, that’s bike racing – being at the front of the race and taking a chance. If I arrived at the bottom of the Mur with those guys they definitely would have a better chance – that’s clear with specialists like Rodriguez on that type of climb. So I had to take my chances and try to get a head start, and that’s what I did.
Four days later was Liège-Bastogne-Liège. You and Dan Martin were in the decisive break, but when Nibali attacked that group broke up. How did the last 15 or so kilometres develop, and are you happy with 9th place at Liège with your teammate Martin 5th?
RH: We took what we did at Flèche into Liège. The team was excellent and we rode well together, especially me and Dan (Martin) in the final. We kept ourselves in the race and ended up with a chance at the podium and came up with 5th and 9th, that’s definitely solid and was a nice way to close out the Spring Classics, that was my best result at Liège so I’m definitely pleased with that.
How challenging is that Amstel/Flèche/Liège week, and how do you get better at dealing with it each year?
RH: It’s simply that – the more experience you get, the more you’re used to that rhythm. This year it was especially hard with the weather – we definitely got “Classics Weather,” at all three of them – the wind, the cold and the wet just adds to it. When you finish Liège at 6 hours 45 minutes after a hard week, you see the guys, everyone’s on their hands and knees just like a bare-knuckle boxing match. The strongest guys were able to just survive and contest at the finish so it’s nice to be there and be a part of the race. It’s such a hard final and one of the most respected Classics in the world – so just the experience of being there and knowing what to expect helps you get better.
What’s been the high point of your season so far?
RH: Oh, I’d say Liège. I love the Ardennes, I love those Classics and the first time the real Tour de France-climber types clash with the Classics specialists. It’s a special week, so to be there in the final and be a part of that ride that we were able to do, that was definitely the highlight of the season so far.
Is Romandie essentially training for the Giro for you?
RH: Yeah. I mean we have a lot of good guys here, like Andrew (Talansky who finished 2nd on GC). We rally around the best guys that we can get a result. For me, already getting to a good level in the Ardennes… I have to take notice of that. The third week of the Giro is a ways away, but that’s our goal. Obviously I’m gonna be in good shape for the start, but really the last half is the most important, that’s where I’m looking to make sure I’m at my best. We’ll see how it goes here in Romandie day by day, I’m fine-tuning my condition now.
RH: Oh yeah, I’ve had that on my plate since November so it’s something that I’m prepared for and it doesn’t really change anything, I always prepare to be the best I can be. I’ve been working for that and that’s really all it is. I hope I can deliver on that front and produce the result that the team’s looking for – that’s the goal and that’s the mindset going there.
How did you find out that your home team Canucks were knocked out 4-1 to the Kings, an 8 seed?
RH: My friend Cody let me know. So yeah, that’s a bummer, but that’s sport.
I guess everyone in BC will be paying even more attention to the Giro with no more hockey…
RH: Sure, yeah! They should be following the Giro anyway, if they’re into good sport, but whatever it takes to get more people to take notice! (laughs)
With fellow Canucks, Christian (Meier) and Svein (Tuft) there too, they’ll have more reason to watch.
RH: Yeah, that’s great. I’m sure those guys are excited! They’ve got themselves onto a solid team (GreenEdge) and they got themselves a start in the Giro! So that’s great for Canadian cycling and I’ll be definitely loving having a couple of Canadian teammates in a sense out there!
So the next time I speak to you will be from Italy then.
RH: Ok, sounds good, Amy. Thanks!