Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ryder Hesjedal chats about his Ardennes Classics campaign

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HomeInterviewsRyder Hesjedal chats about his Ardennes Classics campaign

In the Flèche Wallonne – just for a few minutes, as the much diminished peloton ran in towards Huy and the final gun fight on the Mur – it looked like Canada’s Ryder Hesjedal might just steal it.

The 31 year-old Garmin ex-mountain biker in company with Norwegian Sky man, Lars Petter Nordhaug blasted big gears into the foot of the hill.

They made the right turn, on to the notorious gradient with 13 seconds in hand – it wasn’t enough.

Ryder Hesjedal
Ryder leads Lars Petter Nordhaug in the finale of Fleche, getting caught and finishing 21st in the end.

But it was great TV, good advertising for Garmin and set things up nicely for Hesjedal’s team mate, Dan Martin.

Hesjedal finished an eventual 21st, to go with 15th in the Amstel and 9th at Liege – not a bad week in the Ardennes.

Hesjedal has been in the world cycling consciousness since 2001 when he took his first MTB World Cup podium.

The following year he was capable of winning MTB World Cups and in 2003 was runner up in the Cross Country Worlds in the colours of Rabo Continental.

He signed with US Postal for 2004 and stayed with them into 2005 but with the team now called Discovery.

That year he was a member of the team which shepherded Paolo Savoldelli to Giro glory.

He was with Phonak for 2006, riding his first Vuelta.

The following year saw him with US team Health Net riding a domestic programme – and winning the Canadian elite time trial championship after having finished third and second, the previous two years.

In 2008 he started his association with Jonathan Vaughters’ teams, which has continued up to the present.

Ryder Hesjedal
Our blogger Toby Watson refers to Ryder as “Hesj” or “weight of a nation”.

The squad won the TTT in the Giro and Hesjedal rode his first Tour de France.

A year later, he again rode the Tour and took a Vuelta mountain stage.

In 2010 he was second in the Amstel, ninth in the Fleche and 12th in Liege-Bastogne-Liege, also taking a stage in the Tour of California.

Last year, his biggest result was being part of the Garmin team which blasted to TTT victory in le Tour.

We spoke to him just after his Ardennes campaign between stages of the Tour of Romandie where he has picked up two top stage ten placings – boding well for his assault on the Giro.

Ryder Hesjedal
Ryder heading for 5th place on the second stage in Romandie.

The Flèche – that was a bold move in the finale, Ryder.

“Yeah, I had to take my chance instead of arriving with Rodriguez and co.

“It was a tall order to stay away, but if I’d had another 10 seconds it might have come off – especially when you see that I was able to resist the peloton on the climb.

“It’s a nasty climb and we’d had proper Spring Classic weather, cold and with showers.

“The move was based on what had happened at the Amstel, we wanted to be there – having said that, wanting to be there is one thing but doing it is another.

“The move I made was a big help for Dan Martin and Fabian Wegmann who could concentrate on position for the Mur with Dan riding to sixth.”

You were 15th at the Amstel, were you happy with that?

“Given that I went into it with a programme that wasn’t designed to have me in top shape for this part of the season, yes I was happy – even though I was actually in good shape.

“My first major objective is the Giro so I hadn’t trained for that kind of distance.

“I was only lacking a bit for the big effort on the Cauberg at the end – I was maybe fixated on my ride in the race in 2010 when I rode the whole hill on the big ring.

“But I lost momentum when Nordhaug and Cunego came down in front of me.”

Ryder Hesjedal
15th place @ 9 seconds back from Gasparotto in the Amstel Gold.

The Worlds parcours are based around the Amstel – that must be in your mind?

“It’s a little ways out and I’ve not done the Worlds for a few years, but with the course in Limbourg it should suit me.

“The timing this year works well, the Quebec and Montreal World Tour races are on the 7th and 9th September, the Worlds are the 23rd and Lombardy is the 29th.”

Liege – was Iglinskiy winning a surprise?

“Not really – it was always gonna be an unpredictable finale and if a guy is strong enough to go with the attacks at the end, then he’s strong enough to win.

“Iglinskiy has won the Eroica in the past and Astana rode a good race.

“I was more surprised to see guys like Gilbert falling apart at the end.”

Ryder Hesjedal
Ryder was in the group sprint for 3rd place at Liege, taking 9th.

I’ve driven up St. Nicolas; it’s horrible, isn’t it?

“Yep – especially after 245km!

“It’s an iconic climb in the parcours – La Redoute is too far out, now.

“The race kicks off on the Roche aux Faucons but it’s decided on St. Nicolas.

“Everybody knows that the Roche is coming after La Redoute – if you have the legs you have to keep them for later.

“The introduction of Roche aux Faucons has changed the face of the race.”

Which is your favourite of the Ardennes races?

“Liege – it’s the oldest, biggest and hardest.

“I have a connection with the Amstel having been on the podium, but Liege is my favourite race.

“It’s the last of the Spring Classics and the conclusion of the Ardennes Week.

“It suits me – and I’m chipping away at it as each year goes by.”

Alex Howes riding was a pleasant surprise for Garmin.

“It’s not something I expected, he was strong in Catalunya and some of the guys mentioned that the Ardennes races are his style – with tough parcours and the rain.”

Did your winter go well for you?

“‘Knock on wood,’ yeah!

“Things have gone well through the early part to where I am now – I’ve stayed away from problems and am on track.

“The Ardennes were good, Romandie so far, too – but as I said, the Giro is the big goal.”

Ryder Hesjedal
Ryder’s focus has been on the GIro this season.

You started in the Tour Down Under, not in the Algarve as you have done for the last couple of years.

“It was to get me goin’ – I’m based in Hawaii over the winter and Australia isn’t too far away.

“It fitted in well, I was there to help Heinrich Haussler; it was good to be racing in the heat – I rode it in 2009 and enjoyed it.

“It gave me a point to aim at to get the season started – after it I went back to Hawaii and trained there for a month.

“I came to Europe at the end of February.”

Catalunya and the Pais Vasco are the traditional Ardennes tune ups, how did they go for you?

“Catalunya was good – we had Dan Martin in fourth place.

“It was my first stage race since the Tour down Under so it was good to get my motor going.

“I was surprised at the good level I came out of them – especially considering I didn’t ride Paris-Nice or Tirreno.”

I’ve read that you may be riding the Giro and Tour?

“Yes, definitely, the Giro is great preparation for the Tour.

“In 2008 I rode the Giro, Tour and Olympics and that after being on the podium in the GP d’Ouverture – Slipstream was just starting out so we had to be good out of the start-gate.

“I raced hard from February to July – and I’m stronger and more experienced, now.

“The last few years I’ve only ridden the Tour but I think I’m old enough to handle two Grand Tours in a season.

“I’ve designed my season around it, with a slower build up and I’ll have time to recover between the major objectives.”

Do the Olympics figure in your plans, again?

“Yes, but Canada has only qualified one rider each for the road race and time trial – and it has to be the same rider!

“It’s like saying the athletics guys you have to do the 100 metres and the marathon!

“As far as the road race goes, I’ve shown that I can handle six hour races and be on the podium.

“The last three seasons I’ve been in good in San Sebastian (19th/6th/5th), out of the Tour.

“I’d prefer to focus on the road race and make an impact for my country – but if you have to ride the time trial, then you have to ride it.”

Ryder Hesjedal
Ryder doesn’t mind doing a good TT – if he has to!

What’s the plan after Romandie?

“Taper into the Giro – we go to Denmark on Tuesday with the prologue on Saturday, three days there, then the transfer to Italy – and the TTT . . .”

Thanks to Garmin for the use of the photos.

Result - Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2012

Full Result

1 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 6:43:52
2 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:00:21
3 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:00:36
4 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar
5 Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin – Barracuda
6 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
7 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
8 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre – ISD
9 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin – Barracuda
10 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
11 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
12 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar
13 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha Team
14 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Astana Pro Team
15 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 0:01:00
16 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:01:27
17 Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team 0:02:11
18 Julien Simon (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
19 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Greenedge Cycling Team
20 Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Sky Procycling
21 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
22 Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team
23 Frank Schleck (Lux) Radioshack-Nissan
24 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Katusha Team
25 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team Saxo Bank
26 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing Team
27 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Radioshack-Nissan
28 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
29 Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling
30 Pieter Serry (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator
31 Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
32 Yury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha Team
33 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
34 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
35 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre – ISD
36 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Sky Procycling
37 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team 0:02:19
38 Daniele Pietropolli (Ita) Lampre – ISD 0:05:05
39 Jean Marc Marino (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
40 Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Movistar Team 0:05:27
41 Rémi Cusin (Fra) Team Type 1 – Sanofi
42 Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:05:39
43 Sander Armee (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator
44 Dominik Nerz (Ger) Liquigas-Cannondale
45 Francis De Greef (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
46 Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
47 Alex Howes (USA) Garmin – Barracuda
48 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin – Barracuda
49 Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet
50 Andy Schleck (Lux) Radioshack-Nissan
51 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
52 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin – Barracuda
53 Alexandre Geniez (Fra) Argos-Shimano
54 Peter Stetina (USA) Garmin – Barracuda
55 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
56 Maciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale
57 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
58 Jan Bakelants (Bel) Radioshack-Nissan
59 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
60 Moreno Moser (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
61 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team
62 Mads Christensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
63 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
64 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team
65 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team 0:05:45
66 Dirk Bellemakers (Ned) Landbouwkrediet 0:07:29
67 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
68 Davy Commeyne (Bel) Landbouwkrediet 0:08:22
69 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
70 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
71 Vincent Jerome (Fra) Team Europcar 0:08:28
72 David Lelay (Fra) Saur – Sojasun 0:08:30
73 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:08:54
74 Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre – ISD
75 Michael Albasini (Swi) Greenedge Cycling Team
76 Wouter Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team
77 Brice Feillu (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
78 Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre – ISD
79 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Katusha Team 0:11:04
80 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
81 Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team 0:12:18
82 Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank Cycling Team
83 Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team
84 Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator
85 Kevin Ista (Bel) Accent Jobs – Willems Veranda’s
86 Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
87 Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
88 Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) Team Type 1 – Sanofi
89 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team
90 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
91 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Argos-Shimano
92 Bruno Pires (Por) Team Saxo Bank
93 Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Argos-Shimano
94 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Team Type 1 – Sanofi
95 Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor) Team Type 1 – Sanofi
96 Romain Sicard (Fra) Euskaltel – Euskadi
97 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team
98 Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Katusha Team
99 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team
100 Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Sky Procycling
101 Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar Team
102 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
103 Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Astana Pro Team
104 Christian Meier (Can) Greenedge Cycling Team
105 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
106 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team Europcar
107 Simone Stortoni (Ita) Lampre – ISD
108 Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Sky Procycling
109 Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
110 Daryl Impey (RSA) Greenedge Cycling Team 0:12:50
111 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team 0:12:54
112 Simon Clarke (Aus) Greenedge Cycling Team 0:14:31
113 Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
DNQ Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team
DNQ Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Movistar Team
DNQ Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team
DNQ Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator
DNQ Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Movistar Team
DNF Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team
DNF Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing Team
DNF Klaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing Team
DNF Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team
DNF Laurent Didier (Lux) Radioshack-Nissan
DNF Christopher Horner (USA) Radioshack-Nissan
DNF Jens Voigt (Ger) Radioshack-Nissan
DNF Joost Posthuma (Ned) Radioshack-Nissan
DNF Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana Pro Team
DNF Simone Ponzi (Ita) Astana Pro Team
DNF Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
DNF Matt Brammeier (Irl) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
DNF Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
DNF Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
DNF Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Katusha Team
DNF Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha Team
DNF Stefano Agostini (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
DNF Federico Canuti (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
DNF Daniele Ratto (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
DNF Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling
DNF Davide Appollonio (Ita) Sky Procycling
DNF Luke Rowe (GBr) Sky Procycling
DNF Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Greenedge Cycling Team
DNF Travis Meyer (Aus) Greenedge Cycling Team
DNF Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Greenedge Cycling Team
DNF Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
DNF Jorge Azanza Soto (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
DNF Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
DNF Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
DNF Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team
DNF Laurent Mangel (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
DNF Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
DNF Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
DNF Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
DNF Franck Bouyer (Fra) Team Europcar
DNF Anthony Charteau (Fra) Team Europcar
DNF Davide Malacarne (Ita) Team Europcar
DNF Kévin Reza (Fra) Team Europcar
DNF Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Lampre – ISD
DNF Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Lampre – ISD
DNF Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator
DNF Eliot Lietaer (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator
DNF Arthur Van Overberghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator
DNF Jelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator
DNF Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF Thomas Damuseau (Fra) Argos-Shimano
DNF Yukihiro Doi (Jpn) Argos-Shimano
DNF Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Argos-Shimano
DNF Simon Geschke (Ger) Argos-Shimano
DNF Yann Huguet (Fra) Argos-Shimano
DNF Thomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin – Barracuda
DNF Michel Kreder (Ned) Garmin – Barracuda
DNF Koen Barbe (Bel) Landbouwkrediet
DNF Gilles Devillers (Bel) Landbouwkrediet
DNF Reinier Honig (Ned) Landbouwkrediet
DNF Frédéric Amorison (Bel) Landbouwkrediet
DNF Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet
DNF Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
DNF Kenny Elissonde (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
DNF Rémi Pauriol (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
DNF Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
DNF Gaetan Bille (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
DNF Brian Bulgac (Ned) Lotto Belisol Team
DNF Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
DNF Gert Dockx (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
DNF Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Accent Jobs – Willems Veranda’s
DNF Oleg Chuzhda (Ukr) Accent Jobs – Willems Veranda’s
DNF Sjef De Wilde (Bel) Accent Jobs – Willems Veranda’s
DNF Gregory Habeaux (Bel) Accent Jobs – Willems Veranda’s
DNF Arnoud Van Groen (Ned) Accent Jobs – Willems Veranda’s
DNF Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Accent Jobs – Willems Veranda’s
DNF Evert Verbist (Bel) Accent Jobs – Willems Veranda’s
DNF Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Team Saxo Bank
DNF David Tanner (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
DNF Troels Ronning Vinther (Den) Team Saxo Bank
DNF Julien El Fares (Fra) Team Type 1 – Sanofi
DNF Julien Antomarchi (Fra) Team Type 1 – Sanofi
DNF Javier Megias Leal (Spa) Team Type 1 – Sanofi
DNF Georg Preidler (Aut) Team Type 1 – Sanofi
Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

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