Can Ryder win a stage of the Tour de France?
Canadian says he might have to have the best day of his life to make it happen
There will be two Canadians in the Tour de France, which starts Saturday in Rotterdam – Ryder Hesjedal, of Team Garmin-Transitions, and Team Sky’s Michael Barry. The two friends are happy to be racing against each other in the world’s biggest and toughest bike race.
After winning a stage of the Vuelta a Espana last fall and then again in the Tour of California in May, Hesjedal has a legitimate shot at becoming the first Canadian since Steve Bauer in 1988 to win a stage of the Tour de France.
His role will be more to help Garmin’s GC man Christian Vande Velde and sprinter Tyler Farrar, but Hesjedal will likely be given the opportunity to go for a stage win on a couple of occasions.
“I think I’ve proven I can not just ride well and place high, but also place in the front,” the 29-year-old told the Canadian Press. “Any time you can show that and prove that at this level, I think the team is hoping you can do that again and is looking at you to do that.
“Have I circled one day in particular on the course?” he said with a chuckle. “Not really. It’s not something that is realistic. You have to approach it day by day. To actually come up with a stage win in a Grand Tour, a lot of things have to align,” said the Victoria native. “You have to be on your best day, if not the best day you have ever had.
Return Friday for comments from Michael Barry on his first-ever entry in the Tour.