Tour de France has begun and Canada has a contender.
By koopharper
@koopharper (7477)
Canada
June 30, 2012 7:30pm CST
Ryder Hesjedal won this year's Giro d'Italia. First Canadian to win one of the major bicycle tours. We haven't had someone with a chance to podium since Steve Bauer finished third many years ago. After the first time trial stage he sits eighteen seconds behind the race leader. Only one second behind the favorite to repeat Cadel. Really nice to have a countryman in contention. Go Ryder. (Great name for a competitive cyclist by the way). Will make some kind of party here if he ends up on the podium better yet if he ends up standing on top of it.
Anyone else following the tour this year? If you are, who do you think will win and who are you rooting for?
2 responses
@Troublegum (641)
• United States
13 Jul 12
I always hope Ryder does well, just because I used to see him out at the mountian bike races and I have a soft spot for the roadies who I know are really mountain bikers deep down. This is also why I am bummed that Cadel is losing so much time right now.
@Troublegum (641)
• United States
13 Jul 12
What I really want to see is Frome just ignoring the race radio, putting 5 minutes on Wiggins on a mountain stage and then wear yellow into paris. That would be cool but it would never happen unless Wiggins is injured. Baring that I would like to see Nibali close the gap and have a tight race.
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
14 Jul 12
Froome just needs some believable radio trouble and some miscommunication to do that. Probably hear a lot of public cussing over that one. Nibali is hanging in there. He certainly isn't out of it. A Wiggins crash would change everything. Don't really want to see that though. There has been enough crashes and injuries this tour.
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
13 Jul 12
I'm bummed that Ryder crashed out. Except for his crash and injury I think he would still be with the leaders. He's hoping to compete in the Olympics for Canada. Hopefully he'll be back in top form for that. I think Cadel is out of contention now. I might finish well but I don't think he has enough left to overtake Wiggins.
@Jollygoodwot (57)
• Canada
2 Jul 12
I'm hoping that he wins this year and I'm kind of looking forward to seeing that party-of-sorts. It would be cool to have a Canadian on the podium that would make me happy.
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
2 Jul 12
If he wins you'll definitely be partying with the rest of us big guy. It was exciting back in the 80s when Steve Bauer led for a significant part of the tour and ended up in third place. Only Canadian to ever stand on the podium. Same home town so that was extra special.
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
3 Jul 12
Third stage had him in a crash, blew a tire and fell behind the pack. Managed to catch up and be with the lead group when he crossed the finish. Gained two places because two of the top ten weren't so lucky. He sits in eighth place one second behind last year's winner. Hope he didn't burn himself up any playing catch up. That kind of effort you would save for a breakaway playing for the overall lead. Go Ryder!
