Giro 2012 Ryder Hesjedal Thread ( spoiler alert!))

So … Ryder in 3rd for GC today, starting the second week of the Giro. I'm assuming he will make his main moves in the mountain stages which don't start for another week. It must be tempting to try to get him into the pink jersey, but that would only make him a marked man. Anyone else think he will lay low for another week? Or will Garmin be forced to play its hand if another contender starts to blow it open over the next week?

Tyler Farrar is gone, crashed out. Garmin's overall strategy might change now with their top sprinter out of the race.

Vandevelde is in 5th, so it might come down to which of them is climbing better and can build a lead the team can defend.

On the other hand, I think Vandevelde has stated he's using the Giro as training for the Tour and doesn't want to beat himself up too much.

Vandevelde is in 5th, so it might come down to which of them is climbing better and can build a lead the team can defend.

On the other hand, I think Vandevelde has stated he doesn't want to put too much effort into the Giro so he can focus on Le Tour.

Ryder is team captain for the Giro, so unless he blows a gasket, Vandevelde is officially riding in support of him.

I still don't see Ryder as a top GC contender, so he should try to nab the pink jersey while he's in striking distance.

From an economic/commercial perspective, better to don the pink jersey for a few days than end up with anything less than a top 3 overall GC finish.

Stay patient Ryder, bide your time, let the others fight now, and come at them in the mountains. Maybe I am too hopeful, but I feel Ryder is one of the best at the Giro this year.

Ryder sez:

"[Am I] waking up every day thinking I can win the Giro d’Italia? Not really,” he told VeloNews. “I’m just doing the best I can; we’ll see where that gets me. I’m a realistic guy. I also know what I’m capable of and I’ll push forward and see what I can get.”

“I haven’t stood on a Grand Tour podium before. If you look at the riders, Scarponi or Joaquím Rodríguez, I’ve been racing them for years. I know my limits, what I’m capable of. I’m going to try the best I can, it’s not going to change my mindset.”

Ryder sez:

He might be honest here … but pro cyclists have a history of playing mind-games in the media to hide their true intentions from opponents. He isn't an outright favourite by any means, and it will take a perfect storm for him to win it, but his 6th place in the GC overall of the 2010 TDF was no fluke. And Garmin Barracuda are a formidable team with good coaching this year.

In the pink

boom! it's tight though, gonna have to keep his head up. I liked how he rode the end of the race today, very smart and seemingly calm, but was where he needed to be.

super stoked for Ryder! Read an interview on velonews today with Ryder where he mentioned he thinks he'll get stronger over the course of the 3 weeks. Let's hope so!

Ryder is still in the pink! He has some formidable riders to keep ahead of - Kreuziger, Basso, Rodriguez and Schleck, to name a few.

god damn time bonuses!

god damn time bonuses!

Yeah … weird. The Giro is the only Grand Tour that has them.

Crazy Stage on Saturday … 200+ km course with 3000 m (~10,000 ft) of climbing.