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.
Team Garmin-Barracuda's Hesjedal just finished the race, limited his losses to 14 seconds on Rodriguez of team Katusha. He sits only 31 seconds behind Rodriguez ahead of the final 30-kilometre time trial tomorrow in Milan, a discipline that suits him.
The race has seen only two winners from outside Eurasia, Stephen Roche in 1987 and Andy Hampsten in 1988.
"Besides an international touch, he showed to be strong, to be there, to merit the win. It's good for the Giro to have an international win. We started in Denmark with an American, we continued and touched all the continents. To continue with a Canadian winner gives the race even more of an international feel."
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.
"I think we've all under-evaluated him a little bit. He had a bit of bad luck last year, but riders who've finished in the top 10 of the Tour de France should never be underestimated," Vegni continued. "I think they all unevaluated him, gave him a little too much at the start when instead, they should have kept him under control.
"He showed that he was strong, never tiring, and he even went out on the attack. This shows he's a true champion. I'm not one to make bets, but I get the impression that tomorrow the race winners name on the trophy will be his."
Giro d'Italia 2012: Latest news
Sky birthday boys put party on hold
Phinney aiming for Giro final time trial win
Hesjedal edges closer to being first Canadian Giro winner
Eisel rues missed sprint chances at Giro
Still an 'opportunity' for Uran to win Giro
Guardini speechless after win against Cavendish
Kennaugh withdraws from Giro, next stop Olympics
Giro's Stelvio stage may be shortened due to weather
Izagirre wins on Grand Tour debut
Cavendish silences Cipollini
Sky tightens grip on white jersey
Rodriguez versus Hesjedal in Giro title fight
Cavendish's Sky lead-out still on learning curve
Orica-GreenEdge to strengthen sprint train in Tour de France
Schleck struggles on with dislocated shoulder
Rodriguez up against more experienced rivals in Giro
Bak from worker to winner at the Giro
Giro d'Italia 2012: Live coverage
Giro d'Italia 2012 live text coverage and schedule
Giro d'Italai 2012 stage 13 live text coverage
Giro d'Italia 2012 stage 12 live text coverage
Giro d'Italia 2012 stage 10 live text coverage
Giro d'Italia 2012 stage six live text coverage
Giro d'Italia 2012 stage four live text coverage
Giro d'Italia 2012: Stage reports
Stage 20: De Gendt conquers Stelvio to win stage
Stage 19: Kreuziger bounces back with Giro stage win
Stage 18: Guardini beats Cavendish in final Giro sprint
Stage 17: Rodriguez wins stage to consolidate lead
Stage 16: Izagirre claims Basque breakaway victory
Stage 15: Rabottini takes tough win in Giro
Stage 14: Amador wins Giro's first high mountain stage as Hesjedal reclaims lead
Stage 13: Cavendish makes it three
Stage 12: Bak attacks to win
Stage 11: Ferrari wins Giro stage on ride to redemption
Stage 10: Rodriguez wins thrilling finale to take leadStage nine: Ventoso wins in Frosinone as Goss and Cavendish fall
Stage eight: Pozzovivo takes another Giro win
Stage seven: Hesjedal moves into Giro lead
Stage six: Rubiano solos to epic Giro stage win
Stage five: Cavendish bounces back for another stage win
Stage four: Garmin-Barracuda win TTT to take lead
Stage three: Goss wins in Horsens as Cavendish and Phinney crash
Stage two: Cavendish wins in Herning
Stage one: Phinney wins time trial
Giro d'Italia 2012: Photo galleries
Stage 19 photo gallery
Stage 18 photo gallery
Stage 17 photo gallery
Stage 16 photo gallery
Stage 15 photo gallery
Stage 14 photo gallery
Stage 13 photo gallery
Stage 12 photo gallery
Stage 11 photo gallery
Stage 10 photo gallery
Stage nine photo gallery
Stage eight photo gallery
Stage seven photo gallery
Stage six photo gallery
Stage five photo gallery
Stage four photo gallery
Stage three photo gallery
Stage two photo gallery
Stage one photo gallery
Giro d'Italia 2012: Blogs
Charly Wegelius' Giro blog: Conserving energy for the final week
Charly Wegelius' Giro blog: Holding on to the lead
Charly Wegelius' Giro blog: Getting the team time trial right
Giro moto blog: Hurray for rest day
Giro moto blog: Stage 10
Giro d'Italia 2012: Teams and riders
Giro d'Italia 2012 start list
Giro d'Italia 2012: TV guide
Giro d'Italia 2012: British Eurosport TV schedule
Related links
Giro d'Italia 2012: The Big Preview
Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia section
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