Heading into the second week of the race with a nine second lead over his closest rival Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), Ryder Hesjedal is looking forward to a chance to recover on today’s flatter 171 kilometres to Frosinone.
A bunch sprint is predicted as the most likely outcome, and the Canadian plans to sit tight in the bunch and to conserve as much energy as possible.
“These last three days have been pretty difficult,” he said soon after yesterday’s finish. “I think everyone will be looking to some easier pedaling.”
Hesjedal grabbed the Maglia Rosa after a strong fifth place finish on the final climb of Saturday’s seventh stage. The performance marked him out as one of the best riders in the race, but yesterday saw him under a little more pressure towards the end.
Hesjedal suffered on the final ascent of Colle Molella and with riders dropping off the back, he looked vulnerable at one point. However he appeared to improve after that and finished in the main chasing group, 27 seconds behind the stage winner Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago CSF Inox).
“It was a tough day. I had to buckle down, keep in contact and defend the jersey,” he admitted. “I got over the top of the steep part of the climb and so I was ok.”
While he kept the race lead, one concern is the eight second time bonus Rodriguez picked up for finishing third. This moved him into second overall and within striking distance. The Spaniard is very explosive in the mountains, and is determined to clock up his best Grand Tour finish in this race.
Hesjedal has the same target, though, and made that clear yesterday. “It was reported that I’m not here to win the pink jersey but I want to correct that,” he said. “I came here to give my best. That’s my goal.
“I feel I’m doing that; I’m leading the Giro. I’m just focused on doing my best. We’ll see how the rest of the race develops.”
Like the other GC riders, Hesjedal knows that the final week is where everything will be settled. Small gains and losses will occur before then, but the most important time to be in peak form is in that final few days.
Recharging his batteries today and whenever possible by conserving energy is a crucial part of that approach.
Rodriguez’s best chance of snagging the lead may come on tomorrow’s race to Assisi. It’s an undulating stage with a puncheur’s finale; if he can’t shake off Hesjedal, the Spaniard will try to pick up more time bonuses and chase pink that way.
However if Hesjedal fends him and the other challengers off, he faces several easier days in the Maglia Rosa as the race is straightforward until Saturday’s big summit finish at Cervinia.