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DAILY RACE COVERAGE: TOURMALET: HESJEDAL PUTS CANADA AT TOUR'S TOP
Gregor Brown on Col du Tourmalet
July 22, 2010
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Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) on his way to a 4th place finish in Stage 17 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) is on his way to become the best
placed Canadian at the Tour de France since Steve Bauer's fourth in
1988. On the Col du Tourmalet today, he finished fourth and pushed
himself into eighth overall with only three more days to race.
He dropped American Levi Leipheimer and Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov to make his jump from 10th today.
The
174-kilometer day, covered four high mountain passes through the rain
and cold. Hesjedal, when he finished, had a collection as blue as the
team kit. He explained, though, his ride was no surprise and he is
comfortable handing the added pressures of team leader.
Team Garmin has pinned its hopes on the 29-year-old since both
Christian Vande Velde and Tyler Farrar had to abandon the race due to
fractures suffered in stage two to Spa.
Q: What did you think when you woke up and saw the weather this morning?
"Drama plus. I was not surprised, it has been a tough Tour de France
with lots of hard conditions. I knew it was going to add to an already
epic day.
"It is hard on the body to deal with the cold, especially when it has been 40°C. It is a little of a shock to the system."
Q: The team sports director, Matt White, said it was your best day to date. Do you agree?
"Yes,
in the context. The Tourmalet, the third week of the Tour de France. I
am going better and better this last week, I felt great yesterday and
knew I would have a great day today. I just felt calm all day. I went up
the climb, I was able to follow and put in a good ride."
Q. Honestly, did you have your doubts for today's Tourmalet?
"No.
I felt really comfortable as soon as the first attacks went from Andy
[Schleck] and Alberto [Contador]. I was able to bridge up to the first
guys that made the response and then we formed a good little group
there. Gesink was doing most of the work and there was no need for me to
do more than to just sit tight."
Q: Could you get a sense of the celebration, 100 year since the Tour first covered these high mountains?
"It
was insane and just to be there in the front, going through the mist
and clouds. The fans, good on them for being up here in these
conditions. I think it will sink in more once the pictures surface."
Q: White said you thrive on the pressure. Do you agree?
"I am
just doing what I love doing. I am here in a nice situation, I have been
apart of this team since the beginning. It is a nice place to be, I
have shown the team can count on me and there is room to improve. I am
excited for the next year."
Q: Can you defend yourself in the time trail Saturday and maybe move up a place?
"Yes,
for sure, I feel good and the longer time trail will suit me. I feel
the best I felt in the whole Tour de France, which is a good signal with
the crono coming up."
Ahead of Saturday's 52-kilometer time trial, Hesjedal sits 9'18"
behind leader Contador and 2'15" behind Spain's Joaquín Rodríguez. |
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