Hesjedal 9th in Basque tour

Ryder Hesjedal finished 23rd in the sixth and final stage time trial Saturday to finish ninth overall in the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco.

The Garmin-Cervelo rider, who hails from Victoria, showed promising form for the upcoming Ardennes classics in the tough stage race in northwestern Spain. He finished fifth Monday and seventh Tuesday in the hilly opening stages, then fifth again on Stage 4 Thursday and seventh on Stage 5 Friday.

The overall victory went to German Andreas Kloeden, who last won the event 11 years ago.