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DAILY RACE COVERAGE: HESJEDAL PUSHING HIS WAY TO THE TOUR'S TOP
By Gregor Brown in Mende
July 16, 2010
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Ryder Hesjedal flows over the pave in stage 3 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)
Canadian Ryder Hesjedal became the de facto leader of Garmin-Transitions
after captain Christian Vande Velde abandoned with two broken ribs.
He's handled the responsibility well and showed today he is ready to
gamble for a top ten.
He gambled in a medium-mountain stage, what is known as a
transitional stage, by riding away in an escape. He remained ahead until
the last climb to the finish, where he drifted back to the group of the
classification favorites.
"I would rather race than sit and follow. Some people might say that
is stupid, but I am here to race and I'd rather be out front taking my
chances," Hesjedal explained.
"You never know until you tried, if
we had stayed away for time or if I had won the stage... I am not
scared, even with the hardest days of the tour coming up."
Four of the hardest days are coming in the Pyrenees, beginning with
Sunday's stage to Ax 3 Domaines. Hesjedal sits 13th overall, 6'25"
behind leader Andy Schleck, and he aims to finish in Paris next Sunday
in the top ten.
How well do you know the Pyrenees?
"They are horrific. We will
see where I stand. I know enough about them, I know the Tourmalet, the
Peyresourde, we train up there quite a bit out of Girona."
Did
you preview them with Vande Velde?
"No, I did the Tour of California and then had a break, then did the Tour de Suisse. I was more
concerned about being in proper form than to preview the climbs."
Is
it a two-man race, between Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck?
"They definitely showed that on Tuesday [Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne]. When
you look at what's coming up, a lot can happen on climbs that hard and
with that much still to go. The day with Aspin and Aubisque. If people
thought Morzine was hard, that day is going to be something special."
You are a calm guy. Are you dealing with the pressure of being the
Garmin classification leader?
"There is no added pressure on me. I
want to try to do well, but like I said before, I never came here with a
top ten in mind. Maybe if I had been thinking about it all year and now
to be here, then maybe that would be different.
"I am taking it as it comes. I am already pleased with what has
happened to date. What ever happens today and forward is still a bonus. I
have learnt a lot and I am containing to learn, I am going to come out
of this Tour de France a lot better rider. That's what is important."
You have studied at the classification well. What is possible? A top
ten?
"I think so. I think that is a nice goal to shoot for. I have
been in the top ten for a week and I am less than a minute out of eighth
or ninth.
"If you look at the top 20, you see that it is solid. Every name is
quality, they all have either stood on a Grand Tour podium or won a big
race. I am just happy to be in that company. I am a fan of looking at
the quality of the race, and not just the result itself. Who's in front,
who is behind you. I am pleased with the company I am in."
Do you talk to Vande Velde regularly for advice?
"The last thing
he wants to do is be going through the Tour de France mentally when he
is at home, though, I heard from him a lot when he first dropped out. I
am sure he sees that I am fine and doing my best."
Does Contador look as sharp to you as he did in the previous Tours?
"Who
knows. He is a sharp rider and we will see just how sharp he is when
the race hits the Pyrenees."
What do you think to be right there
against your team-mate last year, Brad Wiggins? Was it too much of a
goal for him to aim for the podium?
"I don't think I am 'racing' against him at the moment, but we have been
surviving together. We just happened to be with each other on the end
of the Alpine stages.
"The sport changes every year. If you get
fourth one year, obviously you have to prepare and try to come back to
improve. He said immediately after his first few tests [stages in the
race] that he doesn't not think he is capable of going with the top
guys." |
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