Ryder Hesjedal keen to defend the Pink jersey

Ryder Hesjedal keen to defend the Pink jersey

Ryder Hesjedal of Team Garmin-Barracuda enjoyed the overall classifications, the pink jersey through stage 7-9 during the 2012 version of the Giro d’Italia 2012.

Team Katusha cyclist, Joaquim Rodriguez took the jersey away from the Canadian after his splendid performance during the stage 10 of the contest.

Joaquim rode brilliantly during the 187 kilometre stage 10 of the race and occupied the top podium spot.

He crossed the finish line in a quickest time of 4 hours, 25 minutes and 5 seconds and overcame Bartosz Huzarski of Team NetApp with a margin of 2 seconds.

Giovanni Visconti of Team Movistar, Domenico Pozzovivo of Team Colnago-ISF and John Gadret of Team AG2R La Mondiale finished at the third, the fourth and the fifth positions in the respective order.

Rodriguez earned 25 important UCI points during the tenth stage which helped him with the overall spot after the stage 10 classifications.

However, Ryder’s fourth place finish during the stage 14 of the Giro has now earned him the pink jersey and the cyclist is determined to continue his dominance for the coming stages of the race.

He finished 20 seconds behind the race leader Andrey Amador Bakkazakova of Team Movistar while Jan Barta of Team NetApp and Alessandro De Marchi of Team Androni Giocattoli finished at the second and the third positions in the respective order.

He is now leading the stage 14 classifications with a total lead of 9 seconds over Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver of Team Katusha.

Paolo Tiralongo of Team Astana is holding the third position with Sandy Casar of Team FDJ-BigMat and Ivan Basso of Team Liquigas-Cannondale occupying the fourth and the fifth positions in the respective order.

Hesjedal cited, “I just felt good, I felt comfortable all the way up. I wanted to see how the legs would respond”.

“The pink jersey was there to be taken, so I went for it. To be honest, I felt a little sad when I lost it”.

“My first thought was that I’d never have it again, and I feel fortunate to pull it back on now”.

“I didn’t really see anyone today from behind. Roman Kreuziger was very strong when his team [Astana] “took control in the downhill, but it’s difficult to pick a favourite”.

It will be interesting to see, if the 31-year-old can continue his winning momentum for the coming stages of the Giro d’Italia 2012.