Ryder Hesjedal achieves cycling glory at Giro d'Italia

by Charlie Smith on May 27, 2012 at 11:17 am
Ryder Hesjedal has moved into the top ranks of international cyclists.
Ken Henderson cartoon

Victoria cyclist Ryder Hesjedal has won the 95th Giro d'Italia.

The former mountain biker is the first Canadian to capture one of the three Grand Tour events, coming from behind to win the final stage in Milan.

The 21st and final leg was an individual time trial, which is Hesjedal's strength.

His previous best performance in a Grand Tour event was a sixth-place finish in the Tour de France in 2010.

Hesjedal belongs to the Garmin Barracuda team.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement congratulating Hesjedal, saying: “This remarkable win in one of bicycle racing's most grueling competitions is a testimony to Mr. Hesjedal’s training, endurance, skill, and competitive spirit."

Comments (5) Add New Comment
James H
May 27, 2012 at 1:23 pm
And it has absolutely nothing to do with you Mr. Harper.
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DavidH
May 27, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Nice of Harper to leap in, inexplicably, and try to acquire a share of the limelight.

The reality is that he wouldn't know Hesjedal if he tripped over him on the way to the pasta buffet, and has no idea what "competitive spirit" really means.
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Hans Goldberg
May 27, 2012 at 3:43 pm
Oh, Harper knows competitive spirit all right. Anybody with a different opinion is to be eliminated by any means whats how ever, and then trampled into the ground
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out at night
May 28, 2012 at 7:20 am
Okay, never mind our prime-sinister, how about that Ryder Hesjedal? Next time I'm grumbling up some silly little climb like the trudge up to Lions Gate Bridge, I'll remind myself of what it must be like to RACE up a bunch of freakin' mountains. For three weeks!
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cristian
May 28, 2012 at 7:49 am
ryder has been great, i'm an italian fan
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