Ryder Hesjedal Arrives in London with High Olympic Hopes

Canada’s Ryder Hesjedal has arrived in London for the 2012 Olympics with his eyes on a medal. Al Dannity looks at how an unfortunate injury could turn out to be to the benefit of Hesjedal.

Welcome to the big show
Ryder Hesjedal is getting used to the extra attention. Greeted by reporters as soon as he reached the UK, the Giro d’Italia winner was quick to address the impact of his early withdrawal from the Tour de France. “Fortunately I wasn’t seriously injured in a way that I couldn’t continue to train,” Hesjedal said upon arriving in London. “I was able to resume training, I’m healthy, and I’m able to represent Canada in the Olympics.” It was quite the sight as Hesjedal stepped off the 16.03 Eurostar from Brussels to be greeted by a throng of reporters. Just three months ago he was an unknown in Canada but his victory in this year’s Giro has made him a big name in the Olympic team.

“I was in top form at the Tour and I don’t think I lost any of that conditioning,” said Hesjedal. “I’m even more optimistic in my ability to perform in these one-day events.” The Giro winner pointed to the road race as his primary goal but that will present a most formidable challenge.

The British contingent
Gold medal favorite Mark Cavendish has his own four horsemen to guide him up the Mall. To paraphrase Grantland Rice, in dramatic lore their names are Death, Destruction, Pestilence, and Famine. But those are aliases. Their real names are: Wiggins, Froome, Millar and Stannard. Wiggins and Froome finished first and second in the Tour de France yet on the streets of London they will play the role of domestiques to their Manx leader Cavendish.

For Hesjedal to break the hegemony he must prove remarkable at making friends and influencing people. If the British do their job, then the road race will end in a sprint finish and the day will almost surely belong to Cavendish. Hesjedal needs to break and he needs it to work. The one factor going in his favor is the time off from Le Tour. The Canadian did not have to grind through the mountains like Team GB’s finest. He comes to London fresh and ready to lead a break. That extra energy will likely be better served in the time trial, where he is a dark horse to medal but free from the team tactics deployed by the British. As the lone Canadian in the field, Hesjedal needs every edge he can get.

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