By Rob Jones, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Monday, September 28, 2009

MENDRISIO, Switzerland - Five years ago, Canadian Ryder Hesjedal rolled the dice on his cycling career.

He was 23 and an accomplished mountain biker, boasting multiple world championship medals, a World Cup win, a trip to the Olympics and a contract with one of the world’s top pro teams. Hesjedal turned his back on that success to start over in the more cut-throat, European-dominated world of road racing.

"It was pretty risky, a big challenge," Hesjedal admits. "I gave it up, rode for half the money and gave up a leadership role on a team. Plus, there was the uncertainty of whether I could do it. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been more satisfying."

There has been plenty to savour this season.

Hesjedal posted a stage win in the Spanish Vuelta on Sept. 11, two days after finishing second on a similar stage. And he won in style, claiming the mountainous 12th stage, a punishing string of climbs spread along the 179-kilometre course.

The 28-year-old from Victoria also finished fifth in the San Sebastien Classic and 11th in what is arguably one of the toughest one-day races in the world - Belgium’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Not to mention, completing his second Tour de France.

The Vuelta is one of the three Grand Tours, along with the Tours of Italy and France. Many professional cyclists go an entire career without winning a stage at a Grand Tour, and Hesjedal’s win was only the second ever by a Canadian, coming 21 years after Steve Bauer’s victory at the Tour de France.

Hesjedal downplays the accomplishment, noting: "It’s not actually that great a thing to boast about. If you said that to a Belgian (pro), or an Italian, they wouldn’t consider it as big a deal.

"But, we are not so big a cycling nation, so to break that drought is a good thing. And to go from almost winning Stage 10 to a winning ride a couple of days later . . . that’s what it’s all about. This will motivate me for my whole career. I just hope there is more of the same coming for myself and other (Canadians).

Hesjedal is more proud of his consistency as a rider.

"I’ve had 150 race days in the last two seasons, and only dropped out of one day of competition. It’s one thing to start races, but something else to go across the finish line every time."

At the time when he quit mountain biking, a lot of people thought he was crazy.

"This (pro road cycling) is something most guys do their whole cycling careers, so to be at this level in a relatively short time, and get that acceptance from the other riders, you have to earn it.

"The Grand Tours are so intimidating, and at the beginning you are paranoid about whether or not you can finish. But, over time, you get stronger and your confidence increases."

Hesjedal finished off his season at the Road World Championships on Sunday, where he was part of the race for more than three hours before eventually pulling out due to the accumulated fatigue of the Spanish race.

"I could feel the effects of a long season, that saw me in top shape in January, starting to catch up with me last week," he said. "I haven’t experienced a bad period all year, so I am very happy to get to this point. I did all I could to try and preserve my condition from the middle of the Vuelta, but it looks like the season finished for me halfway through this world championship."

Hesjedal has high expectations for next season.

"I just want to continue to perform at the highest level, and have my best performances," he said. "I don’t know how long I can keep motivated and keep going, but for sure I want a Tour (de France) stage win. I’ve shown what I can do at the Vuelta, so we’ll see what that turns into."