Ryder Hesjedal is 31 seconds away from changing the cycling game.

The 32 year old Canadian is in 2nd place in the Giro D’Italia with one stage to go.  Sunday, Ryder will go head to head against current leader Joaquim Rodriguez in and individual time trial.  During stage 1 Rodriguez surrendered 14 seconds to Hesjedal in an 8.7k course.  Tomorrow’s course is 31.5k.  It’s technical and flat.

Ryder looks poised to become the first Canadian Grand Tour Winner.  The best previous Canadian finish was Steve Bauer’s 4th place in the 1988 Tour de France.

I’ve followed the race closely and I am on the Hesjedal bandwagon.  Initially, I was rooting for Ryder out of a pure sporting interest.  Over the last week a deeper sediment has developed for lanky Victorian.  The last time a North American has won a grand tour was Lance Armstrong’s tour victory in 2005.  I’ve watched every grand tour since and hung my hopes on the veterans….Hamilton, Landis, Leipheimer, Vande Velde, Danielson, Horner, and the new kids…..Vangarderen, Talansky.  I’ve began to root for my favorite European Riders when the GC starts to play out.  We all have.  The Schlecks are huge in America now.

Despite what you think of Argyle Vests you have to respect Garmin’s progression.  Is it possible to win a grand tour clean?  BMC and Evans were the first to show it can be done and now Hesjedal brings the clean Grand Tour winner to the forefront.  On today’s telecast Jonathan Vaughters said Hesjedal, “rides on suffering.”  His results have come from hard work and pain.  Perhaps his result at this year’s Giro is from alot of this:

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/2805838 w=500&h=281]

My closing thought on this historic performance is about the next generation.  Watching Peter Stetina catch back on after the Mortirolo and pull the GC favorites till his legs stopped working was inspirational.  Not because Stetina is the next Lance Armstrong but because he understands his role.  Only 10 or so years ago North Americans were a rarity in the European peleton.  These young guys understand.  Look at Timmy Duggan pulling himself inside out for Peter Sagan’s 5 Tour of Cali victories.  How about a guy like Dominque Rollin.  Hanging on with FDJ for years just putting in work.

Congrats to Ryder, and congrats to the North American cycling fan.