Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria may just have changed the narrative Tuesday.
None of the news was about his admitting to former performance-enhancing methods. It was all about his fearless bid to win the 16th stage of the 2014 Giro d’Italia amid the most soul-sapping climbs the race has to offer — the Gavia and the Stelvio.
Hesjedal, the 2012 Giro champion and a noted climber, charged among the leaders late in the ascending 139-kilometre leg from Ponte di Legno to Val Martello, only to be hunted down by stage winner Nairo Quintana of Movistar Team.
Hesjedal pedalled home in second place in the driving rain, eight seconds behind the Colombian.
The Island cyclist continued making a valiant charge that few thought possible after a disastrous start to the 2014 Giro. Hesjedal has risen from last place, following a huge crash by his Garmin-Sharp teammates in the opening-stage team time trial, to now ninth place overall in the individual standings and 4:16 behind leader Quintana.
“We have really worked hard since the setback on Day 1 and we can be proud of what we have accomplished so far,” said Hesjedal, after an earlier Giro stage.
Hesjedal has now climbed — quite literally considering the nature of Tuesday’s stage — to within hailing distance of the pink jersey.
“It was raining a lot. We couldn’t see any motorcycle. We all knew it was very dangerous,” Quintana told The Associated Press, following the demanding 16th leg.
“We climbed the Stelvio together, and we all started to descend. There were four or five of us [including Hesjedal] who pulled clear of the group. I went at my rhythm. I gave everything today. I was climbing well in the end.”
Today’s 17th stage is largely a recuperation leg following the 16th — 208 kilometres of mostly rolling hillsides from Samonico to Vittorio Veneto.
Hesjedal, sixth in the 2010 Tour de France, became the first Canadian to win a Grand Tour event in capturing the 2012 Giro.
But the career of the Colwood-raised star hit controversy last October when the 33-year-old admitted to doping in the past, saying he “chose the wrong path.”
The Giro concludes with the 21st stage Sunday into Trieste.
