The Montepaschi Strade Blanche has pulled off that difficult trick of establishing itself, in just a few short years, as one of the most eagerly anticipated races on the calendar. PEZ spoke to a man who has finished in the top ten of three of the four editions held thus far - Garmin-Transitions' Canadian former mountain biker [that figures]: Ryder Hesjedal.
The first edition in the autumn of 2007 went to Russian strongman Alexandre Kolobnev; a move to the spring for the 2008 edition saw Swiss Chrono King, Fabian Cancellara triumph; last year it was classy Swede Thomas Lovkvist who was first into the famous Campo in beautiful Sienna.
This year, the result went east again to Kazakhstan with Astana’s Maxim Iglinskiy beating Lovkvist to the line.
PEZ: How was your winter, Ryder?
Ryder: Great, I stuck to the same routine I have over the last few years, I go to Hawaii - where I have a house - for the winter after spending some time back in Canada. I take a good month off the bike but you’re always active, hiking, swimming in the ocean - and the weather is so good that it’s easy to get motivated to get out on the bike.
My team mate Christian Vande Velde came over to stay with me for three weeks during the winter, he loved the weather here, it’s so much nicer than he’s used to in Chicago!
It was good to have him there and to show him around.
PEZ: How’s your 2010 condition compared to 2009?
Ryder: Better, I would say, bearing in mind that I’ve had half as many races this year - The ‘Eroica’ was just my second race after the Algarve - I need competition to get into my best form.
PEZ: Can you explain to our readers what’s special about the ‘Eroica,’ please?
Ryder: I think everyone is beginning to know more and more about it, but I don’t think that it’s right to compare it to Paris-Roubaix, sure there are sectors of gravel road but it’s anything but flat - it’s more a cross between Paris-Roubaix and Liege-Bastogne-Liege! It’s a great race, the location is beautiful and then you have the seven or eight sectors of gravel road, a total of 57 K, but they’re very up and down - it’s not just the technical aspect that makes the selection, it’s the gradient, too.
But it is like Paris-Roubaix in that if you get dropped, you don’t come back.
PEZ: Your mountain bike roots must be a boon?
Ryder: I think that’s the case, my mountain bike skills are ingrained into me, but I also think it’s more the fact that the profile suits me - I can get up the climbs.
PEZ: Do you make many changes to the bike?
Ryder: No, I just rode my standard road bike but with 25mm Vittoria tubulars. We don’t fit double tape to the bars - there’s a lot of normal tarmac too, remember.
We did have our Roubaix bikes here in case it rained - they have extra clearance and that would have been good if there had been mud.
But conditions were good, as it transpired and we didn’t need them; the only other thing was that we rode alloy rather than carbon rims.
PEZ: What was the Garmin game plan, who was protected?
Ryder: It’s an opportunity for the Classics guys; but unfortunately Tyler Farrar crashed - he seems OK today, fortunately. Given that I’ve been tenth in the last two editions, the team was looking to me to try and get a result - Martijn Maaskant, too.
PEZ: Tell us about your day.
Ryder: The race was in the second half, the strong guys were throwin’ it down - Cancellara, Garzelli, Pozzato. I decided to ride conservatively this year, watching the moves, rather than making them.
I’ve been visualising standing on the podium in this race; but you have to be there at the front, watching for the splits - the race can be over for you in a moment.
I made the splits in the second half but in the finale I had to chase and take up guys who had team mates ahead, but I had to that if I wanted to be in the race.
There were only a couple of guys who could respond to Michael Rogers and Thomas Lovkvist - I was one of them, so I can’t be unhappy.
I was fifth but just at a couple of seconds, it’s not as if I was three minutes back.
PEZ: I believe the finish is very technical.
Ryder: It came into the Campo from a new, more direct and difficult approach this year. There was a steep climb of around 500 metres at 16 to 18 percent then 400 metres to the finish on rough pavement with a few turns.
It was only at the very end that I couldn’t respond; it’s one thing to visualise standing on the podium and another to be so close - I moved up from tenth to fifth but it’s kinda bitter/sweet to be so close.
PEZ: Any ‘with hind sights?’
Ryder: Not really, I felt good but not great, I rode a conservative race but unfortunately there were teams there with multiple representation in the finale. The last two years I’ve animated the race and been in the moves but this year I rode differently and I was almost there.
I had to make big efforts to stay in the game and I just lacked that little bit at the end; but like I said, I was one of a very few who could go with Rogers and Lovkvist - I’m happy.
PEZ: Next up?
Ryder: Tirreno is first, we’re staying near Pisa for a couple more days with the start being on Wednesday - I’ve been twice eighth there, so it would be good if I can move up like I did at the Eroica. Then it’s Catalonia and the Pays Basque - It’s a tough schedule but because I’ve had less early race days, I should be able to carry it off.
The aim is to be good for the Ardennes Classics - the Fleche and Liege. I was 11th at Liege last year so I have strong motivation to get that placing into single digits.
I was 25th at the Fleche last year - but I was tired that day. This year I’d like to arrive at the bottom of the Muur with the front group - and see what I can do.
PEZ: And 2010 will be a good year, if...
Ryder: It’s already been good, I got engaged and I’ve had a good start to my season - it’ll be a good year if it just keeps going like it is!
***
With thanks to Ryder and best wishes for Tirreno.
Race Report: You’ve got to hand it to the Vuelta organisers. Day three of racing and they’re already throwing some awkward slopes in front of ... More....
Roadside Pez St.1B: A late finish for everyone on Saturday’s team time trial made getting up early on Sunday a bit tricky for some; although ... More....
Race Report: The host town for stage two of this year’s Vuelta is Alcalá de Guadaíra and the temperature is already sloping up, up, up. It’s ... More....
Not much needed changing with Sidi's benchmark shoe. In fact if you asked me, they were dead right, as-is for 09'. But il professore dei piede ... More....
When you talk about Orbea bicycles and the Euskaltel team, it’s about more than light alloy and carbon; it’s about people, national identity, unity ... More....
Catlike's latest version Whisper Plus checks a lot of boxes on anyone's list of requirements for the current top of the top of the line helmets. More....
The new book, “As Good as Gold,” by Kathryn Bertine, is the entertaining tale of a dedicated athlete, who had a singularly peculiar opportunity to ... More....
Just a few short weeks from now, one of the largest organized group cycling events on the West Coast will take place between Vancouver and Whistler. ... More....
Recently, PEZ spent a little time in Steamboat Springs, Colorado with titanium frame builders, Moots. The down to earth company in one of the best ... More....
The Tour of Utah provided some of the most entertaining and difficult American racing of the year. PEZ was on the scene for the week along the ... More....
Emma Pooley stormed to a second consecutive solo win yesterday in the women’s version of the GP Plouay and Simon Gerrans faced the challenge of ... More....
Your teammates aren’t cooperating enough in races. A fellow rider is at risk – or is putting others at risk – but is unaware. The peloton needs ... More....
August has been sweltering for much of North America and Europe, and we know that hyperthermia can have a major negative impact on our performance ... More....
August is a dangerous month; a full season of racing has left many athletes tired and ready for the fall break. Often motivation to train hard wanes ... More....
As both a coach and fan of bike racing, I always watch the tour (or any bike race for that matter) with a “coaches eye”, always looking for things ... More....
Roadside Report: 'Did you think it was a good Tour?' asks Vik. I knew it was a leading question, but went along with it, 'yes, a good Tour.' ... More....
Roadside Report: On last Monday’s ‘repos’ in Morzine, Pez got a very special opportunity. As things were marginally more relaxed than normal, ... More....
Giro Roadside Wrap: The curtain fell on this Giro a few weeks ago, but as I’ve learned over the years, as the days tick by the memories of ... More....
Roadside PEZ: The team bus is the home away from home for the riders on Tour. Every night a new hotel room, every day a new start town and a ... More....
Dozens of SMS and emails flash up on my BlackBerry each day, most are chaff and get deleted after a quick glance – but when one comes in to tell me ... More....
The last time we spoke to Columbia-HTC's Matt Goss, he'd just won a race which one day may become a classic - Philly. On Sunday past he won a race ... More....
Here at PEZ, we’re dedicated students of cycling history. Plus, we love those old-school photos featuring riders in wool jerseys on skinny steel ... More....
On the premise that it's never too early to run a six day story... Black Dog's Ryan Sabga wanted to ride a European six day race. So, he did! Here's ... More....
Yesterday, PEZ spoke with young American talent, Lawson Craddock, today, we move up two steps to World Junior TT Champion, Bob Jungels. The 17 year ... More....
Gran Canaria, situated off of the west coast of Africa, is not one of the world’s best known riding destinations. When compared to the Alps, ... More....
He has a degree in 19th century French literature was a big Richard Virenque fan, and as the organiser of PEZ's superb hotels for the 2010 Tour de ... More....
Wow, did somebody say transfer season? It's certainly that crazy time of year where riders, managers and suppliers are fighting for the best deals ... Full Story....
Roadside St.5: A sprinter’s day and the best of them are here at the 75th Vuelta a España. Who will take the honours and the champagne? What ... More....
Race Report: After the arduous profiles of the last two days, the sprinters got their chance in Stage 5. Not to say that today was an easy ... More....
Two times Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday, and at only 50 years of age, his time came much too soon. PEZ ... More....
Race Report: The longest day yet of the ’10 Vuelta saw the riders tackling 183 km from Málaga to Valdepeñas de Jaén. Philippe Gilbert started ... More....
![](javascript:showpic("http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/tech/sidi/10sidilarge.jpg",1900,1267);)
![](javascript:showpic("http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/tech/moots/bike-bikebig.jpg",900,673);)
