Ryder Hesjedal is doing it quietly, and avoiding the crashes.

The West Shore native has executed a solid first four stages of cycling on the Tour de France and is just 18 seconds back of yellow jersey holder Fabian Cancellara, tied for eighth overall.

Crashes plagued , thoroughly testing the resolve of HesjedalB次元官网网址檚 team Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda. While the pile-ups took down many of his teammates, the man from the West Shore narrowly escaped them, including the crash in the final stretch of WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 Stage 4.

B次元官网网址淲e had four guys go down (on Tuesday),B次元官网网址� Garmin manager Jon Vaughters told Bicycling.com. B次元官网网址淏asically, we didnB次元官网网址檛 have a particularly good day. By default ... the teamB次元官网网址檚 focus is going to have to be on the tall Canadian.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 not ideal for Garmin, the defending team champions from 2011, which came in with a number of loose objectives.

But itB次元官网网址檚 incredibly exciting for the fans of Hesjedal, winner of the Giro dB次元官网网址橧talia in May.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so complex, thereB次元官网网址檚 so much going on at any given time,B次元官网网址� said Seamus McGrath, a West Shore resident and a former national team road racer, and close friend of HesjedalB次元官网网址檚.

B次元官网网址淩yderB次元官网网址檚 looking really good, and though itB次元官网网址檚 early still, itB次元官网网址檚 important that heB次元官网网址檚 avoided some of the carnage in the first few stages.B次元官网网址�

HesjedalB次元官网网址檚 also been able to conserve energy ahead of the treacherous hill climbs that make-and-break Tour competitors.

B次元官网网址淩yder made it into the lead group (on Stage 3), and never did you see his nose in the wind, he just got sucked along (in the slipstream),B次元官网网址� McGrath said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 played a great tactical game.B次元官网网址�

Going ahead, the strategy for Garmin is to protect Hesjedal and keep him within striking distance of the leaders.

B次元官网网址淲hen theyB次元官网网址檙e in the mountains, Christian Vande Velde, Tom Danielson and Robbie Hunter will be invaluable to set the pace and help bring back breakaways from dangerous riders,B次元官网网址� McGrath explained.

The trio of elite cyclists, all of whom are capable of finishing top-10 on the Tour, will stay near the front of the peloton to catch breakaways involving any cyclists near or ahead of Hesjedal in the overall classification.

Looking ahead, the TourB次元官网网址檚 Stage 7 on Saturday has several steep climbs along the  199-km route, ending with a six-kilometre, Cat. 1 (Cat. 4 being the easiest) hill.

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