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Ryder Hesjedal to lead Cannondale-Garmin at the Giro d’Italia

Cannondale Garmin Giro d'Italia squad
May 7, 2015
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Cannondale Garmin Giro d'Italia squad

Victoria’s Ryder Hesjedal will lead Cannondale-Garmin’s nine-man squad at the Giro d’Italia, which kicks off Saturday in San Lorenzo a Mare. Hesjedal won the Italian Grand Tour in 2012. In 2014, he placed ninth.

“I couldn’t be more excited to start another Giro d’Italia with such a great group of people,” he said. “The riders and staff know how hard a three-week race is and I know we are all ready for the challenge, and prepared to continue our strong legacy with the race.” Director Charly Wegelius said: “Ryder Hesjedal, champion of 2012 Giro d’Italia, headlines Cannondale-Garmin’s 2015 Giro team. Ryder approaches the Giro in strong form and knows how to pace himself in Grand Tours. His vast experience, especially as a Giro winner, will be a precious resource for the team. Racing the Giro with a former winner on the squad is a unique opportunity for our younger riders like Nate Brown, Davide Formolo and Davide Villella and one that I expect them to take full advantage of. We can also count on the strength and experience of well-grounded riders Janier Acevedo, Andre Cardoso, Tom Danielson, Alan Marangoni and T.J. Slagter. This is a versatile team with a mix of youth and experience, and we’ll be looking for opportunities throughout the race.”

While Hesjedal’s overall win is Slipstream Sports’ most notable Giro victory, other successes include a stage win by Ramunas Navardauskas in the 2013. That year Hesjedal was unable to defend the pink jersey as he suffered from an upper respiratory tract infection. In 2014, Garmin-Sharp, as the team was then known, had a crash in the Stage 1 team time trial. That accident took out Dan Martin, who suffered a broken collarbone, as well as Andre Cardoso, Koldo Fernandez and Nathan Haas. The time loss that resulted for the team by not having the full squad pushing to the line, hindered any of Hesjedal’s GC hopes. He was, however, a very active rider during last year’s Giro, looking for opportunities. This year, Cannondale-Garmin still seems to be wrestling with the team time trial. At the Giro del Trentino, a raced used to prepare for the Giro, the squad experienced  crash that sent Ted King and Davide Villella to the ground.

These accidents are in contrast to the organization’s first Giro d’Italia win in 2008 with the TTT. A second win in the team time trial came in 2012 Giro d’Italia. Davide Formolo will be racing in his first Giro. In January, he told Canadian Cycling Magazine about the significance of the race. “I’m an Italian guy,” he said. “We’re born in front of the TV with the Giro d’Italia. When you are child and you’re on your bike, you imagine you’re in the groups of the Giro.”

Cannondale-Garmin 2015 Giro d’Italia lineup

  • Janier Acevedo
  • Nathan Brown
  • Andre Cardoso
  • Tom Danielson
  • Davide Formolo
  • Ryder Hesjedal
  • Alan Marangoni
  • Tom Slagter
  • Davide Villella