Cycling Update: An American Wins the Giro d'Italia

Going into the final stage and final time trial Canada's Ryder Hesjedal sat 31 seconds behind the leader, Spain's Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver. Rodriguez is not much of a time trialer and so it was expected that Hesjedal could make up the deficit, but you never know until the race is run. He did and is the first Canadian to ever win a grand tour.

Hesjedal popped on the scene a few years back with a top ten finish in the Tour de France, but he was certainly not considered a real threat coming into this year's Giro and so his performance was a real eye opener to everyone. He never cracked in the mountains as expected and in fact was able to get back some time in one of the late mountain stages, a move that turned out to be critical to his win. This is also the first grand tour win for his United States based team Garmin-Barracuda. Garmin-Barracuda has made a name for themselves by their very openness about blood testing their athletes and putting clean racing ahead of wins. There was a time when no one gave them a chance to ever win, but they have proven since entering the grand tour world four years ago that they can compete. Lance Armstrong made fun of the sport of cycling when Garmin landed their first grand tour top five finish, but he was proven to be out of step and Garmin has proven that they can compete at the top level.

In fact it should be noted that if you watch this Giro d'Italia you'll see it is nothing like the sport that I first started following in the late 90's. The speeds are slower and individuals are unable to dominate as they once did as now all the guys at the top of the sport are all clustered together. I don't think this is a sign of their lack of ability. It is instead a sign of just how dirty this sport was for a long time.

Final General Classification

1 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Barracuda 91:39:02
2 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 0:00:16
3 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:01:39
4 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:02:05
5 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:03:44
6 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:04:40
7 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling 0:05:57
8 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox 0:06:28
9 Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling 0:07:50
10 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:08:08
22 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Barracuda 0:38:23