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

Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) lit up a slow, grinding stage to the Cervinia ski resort. He flipped the Giro d'Italia classification with his attack and took the overall lead back from Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha).

"I felt good, felt comfortable the whole way - I just figured I would try and see how the legs would respond," the 31-year-old Canadian said in a post-stage press conference. "I knew it [the climb] eased off after three kilometres. The kilometres were clicking off - figured I would have a good go, the jersey was there for the taking." He paused and added: "Not much to it."

Hesjedal placed seventh in the Tour de France 2010. He took aim at the Giro d'Italia over the winter after team Garmin gave him the nod. It's his first time to lead a team into a Grand Tour and to point towards the overall win.

He held the jersey for three days already, thanks in part to his ride in the opening time trial in Herning and Garmin's time trial in Verona. A strong run through the southern mountains gave him the lead in Lago Laceno. He lost it to Rodríguez in Assisi on the short, steep climb to the city's centre.

Those climbs last weekend were 1400 meters, short affairs in Italy's Apennine mountain range, and nothing compared to the Alps. Cervinia opened a mountain run that takes the Giro from west to east, to Pampeago and ending on top of the Stelvio at 2757 metres. The only respite comes on a flat stage on Thursday and in a time trial, 30 kilometres, on the final leg in Milan next Sunday.

Judging from today, the rider from Victoria BC could be up for the challenge. He left his rivals - Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale), Roman Kreuziger (Astana) and Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) included - at three kilometres out and pushed solo to the finish. He gained 26 seconds on Basso and Scarponi, and another six seconds on Kreuziger.

The GC with seven stages to race

1. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda)

2. Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) 9"

5. Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) 1-06

6. Roman Kreuziger (Astana) 1-07

8. Rigoberto Uran (Sky) 1-19

9. Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) 1-20

15. Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) 2-20

"The race is still wide open, Kreuziger is strong; Rodriguez, Scarponi, Basso, Pozzovivo," he paused and added, "Hesjedal."

Teams Liquigas and Astana appear strongest and could benefit over time, but much will depend on their captains. Hesjedal has Christian Vande Velde and Peter Stetina for support in the mountains.

"This weather is perfect for him, this kind of climb is perfect for him," Vande Velde told Cycling Weekly at the finish. "We're all realistic. The climbs later are going to be much steeper and they're not exactly as good for him. Anyway, it doesn't matter, to win here you have to have form."

"I am in the jersey, the other favourites clearly have taken control of the race, they feel they are capable of winning," Hesjedal continued. "My team, we do not have the numbers on the climbs, I will be looking at the riders who have taken control of the race, riding to see if I can win it by Milan."

Giro d'Italia 2012: Latest news

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Rodriguez up against more experienced rivals in Giro

Bak from worker to winner at the Giro

Cavendish disappointed to lose Giro stage in Montecatini Terme

Goss shaping up as Orica-GreenEdge leader

Hesjedal happy with Giro performance despite losing lead

Pinotti alters Giro plans after losing time in mountains

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Hesjedal has tough day as Giro leader

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English speakers on top

Giro favourites to make move in first mountain finish

Malori will relish time in Giro lead

Giro d'Italia 2012: Live coverage

Giro d'Italia 2012 live text coverage schedule

Giro d'Italia 2012: Stage reports

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 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: 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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