HeB次元官网网址檚 CanadaB次元官网网址檚 top cyclist and for the moment, heB次元官网网址檚 the top cyclist in the world.

VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Ryder Hesjedal won the maglia rosa (pink jersey) as the overall winner of the Giro dB次元官网网址橧talia on Sunday, following a sensational effort in the final three stages of the 3,500 kilometre, 21 stage race.

Hesjedal started the final day (May 27) in second place, and erased a 31-second deficit behind leader Joaquin Rodriguez in the 28.8 kilometre time trial of Stage 21 which wove through the streets of Milan. Hesjedal was sixth on the day with a time of 34:15, while Rodriguez slipped to second overall, finishing 26th in the time trial at 35:02. BelgiumB次元官网网址檚 Thomas De Gendt was climbed to third overall in the general classification.

, a Belmont secondary grad, is the first Canadian to win a grand tour, which includes the Giro, Tour de France and Spain's Vuelta a Espana.

In the initial interviews and photo opportunities following his win, Hesjedal had yet to show much emotion.

B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 even describe (the feeling) going,B次元官网网址� Hesjedal said during Sunday's media conference call from Italy. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 overwhelming and itB次元官网网址檚 going to take a while to sink in.B次元官网网址�

Hesjedal truly won the race by holding his second-place position, a half-minute back of Rodriguez, through the treacherous mountain climbs of stages 19 and 20 on Friday and Saturday, including SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 seven hour marathon up the snowy slopes of the Stelvio summit. Both days Hesjedal successfully fended off breakaway attacks by leading contenders and previous Giro winners Ivan Basso (2006 and 2010) and Michele Scarponi (2011). EurosportB次元官网网址檚 television analysts were impressed, thinking the attempts would slowly bleed HesjedalB次元官网网址檚 stores, like being eaten by a pack of piranhas.

Not only did Hesjedal march on undeterred, he nearly stole Stage 19 on Friday from winner Roman Kreuziger, finishing second, just 19 seconds back. Kreuziger was the last man standing from a breakaway group that had held a commanding lead for much of the stage.

Then on Saturday Hesjedal once again completed the demanding final stretch while having to pace the maglia rosa pack, with his rivals drafting his slipstream up the steep climb.

Despite the conspiring by trio of Rodriguez, Basso and Scarponi, as well as others, to bump Hesjedal out Friday and Saturday, the contenders could not.

B次元官网网址淲e were supposed to drop Ryder Hesjedal but it's been the opposite,B次元官网网址� Rodriguez told the Cycling B次元官网网址 on Friday. B次元官网网址淗esjedal gave us a lesson B次元官网网址� the Giro is in his hands. If he doesn't make any (mistakes) he'll be the winner."

Rodriquez was right.

B次元官网网址淚 had to fight for this Giro, (my competitors) werenB次元官网网址檛 helping me, and it makes this victory even sweeter,B次元官网网址� Hesjedal said in response to the mountain stages.

B次元官网网址淚 had help from my team, who did what they could. But my rivals put the pressure on B次元官网网址� as we approached the last part of the Stelvio, my rivals werenB次元官网网址檛 willing to work because they felt it was my race to lose. ItB次元官网网址檚 tactics and situation, and I had to save my own Giro the last five kms, and that makes it that much sweeter.B次元官网网址�

Also sweetening it was multiple kisses with wife Ashley Hofer, and seeing his friend and Tour de Victoria organizer Seamus McGrath and his dad at the Stelvio summit.

As for HesjedalB次元官网网址檚 status in JulyB次元官网网址檚 Tour de France and this summerB次元官网网址檚 London Olympics, the Italian champion said heB次元官网网址檒l begin putting a plan together soon.

B次元官网网址淥nce I started to see my name with the previous winners whoB次元官网网址檝e accomplished this, it will sink in, but IB次元官网网址檓 just enjoying it right now."

Earlier this year HesjedalB次元官网网址檚 seventh place finish at the 2010 Tour de France was bumped to sixth due to the disqualification of that yearB次元官网网址檚 winner, Alberto Contador, who is also banned two years from international cycling for doping.

Fellow Canadian Svein Tuft finished ninth in the time trial on Sunday, 148th overall among the 157 cyclists to finish.

Cycling in pink

Since 1931, the Giro leaders jersey, known as the maglia rosa, has been pink to reflect the colour of La Gazzetta Dello Sport. Like the Tour de France, the Giro which started in 1909, was created to increase the readership of newspapers.

Ryder ready

Asked repeatedly on Sunday about representing Canada at the upcoming Olympics, Hesjedal responded: B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the last thing on my mind right now, I donB次元官网网址檛 even know the selection date to be honest. But IB次元官网网址檝e said all along I want to do it. I donB次元官网网址檛 see why I shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be in London, but weB次元官网网址檒l see.B次元官网网址�

Hesjedal wore the maple leaf at the 2004 Olympics as a mountain biker and at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where he finished 54th in the road race and 16th in the road time trial.