Giro welcomes prospect of Canadian winner

Ryder Hesjedal in lead, Giro d'Italia 2012, stage 14

published 26 May 2012

The Giro d'Italia is on the verge of enjoying its first Canadian win tomorrow in Milan if Ryder Hesjedal succeeds in conquering Joaquin Rodriguez. After years of European winners, it's a refreshing welcome for the race organiser.

"A Canadian winner like him wouldn't be bad, honestly. No, not at all," the Giro's operations director, Mauro Vegni told Cycling Weekly. The sun glistened off the snow above the Stelvio Pass at 2757 metres.

Hesjedal gained his advantage thanks to time trials, the individual one in Herning on the first day - 17th - and the team event in Verona - first. Garmin put Ramunas Navardauskas in the pink jersey thanks to its win. Hesjedal gained it in the medium mountains down south and again, for one day after the stage to Cervinia, in the Alps up north. Since, he maintained eye on Spain's Rodriguez, never letting him get far, even attacking him yesterday and today.

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