Victoria cyclist Ryder Hesjedal conquered 3,500 kilometres and nearly 6,000 metres in elevation over 21 stages to become the first Canadian to win one of Europe's three major cycling tours and usher Canada onto the winning stage in what was for so long considered a European sport.
As he climbed to the top of the podium Sunday in Milan, his historic win was loudly celebrated by cyclists and cycling enthusiasts at Vancouver's popular new Musette Caffe near the downtown Howe Street bike route.
Like American Lance Armstrong before him, Hesjedal marks the rise of elite recreational cycling in Canada. Dozens of long-distance cycling tours and day-long endurance events like the RBC GranFondo Whistler draw participants to the scenic and social pleasures of a physically demanding sport. Many cyclists take care to invest in their equipment, which can be very technical and expensive.
At the Musette on Sunday morning, an online sports network aired the race's final stage and when Hesjedal took to the course for the time trial - a psychological quest to push himself in a one-man race against and the clock - Vancouver applauded and shouted its support. "It's go time, baby!" "Go, baby go!"
Tables were pushed against the walls for the 6 a.m. start time and children's chairs were put to use by adult men and women as roughly 65 people crammed into the narrow cafe, which typically seats 16.
Supporters came dressed in their own cycling kits or wearing shades of the maglia rosa, the pink jersey worn by the Giro's best bicyclist. The narrow room erupted when the Canadian was declared the winner by a slim, 16-second margin.
Eric Vermander, in a pink ball cap and scarf, was nearly moved to tears. The one-time mountain bike racer was elated and said Hesjedal, a former downhill racer, is an excellent ambassador who is respected in the peloton and known for his kind, hard-working and courteous demeanour.
"There is no question that this has been a long time coming for Canadian cycling and that he has been out there working hard on the mountain bike world cup tour and now the road riding world tour, representing all of us," said Vermander. "Now he's the hero of a nation."
Julian Allen and Corey Tracey, two Glotman-Simpson club cyclists later destined for a 120-kilometre ride if the roads stayed dry, said Hesjedal's win will spur interest in the two-wheeled sport.
Allen met the Giro champion earlier this decade at a race in Sidney outside of Victoria. He broke his chain and his body cooled too quickly, his temperature falling to a dangerous low. "I was hypothermic," said Allen, who was treated undercover near the VIP tent where he met Hesjedal. "He was a sympathetic ear."
At the Musette Saturday morning for the penultimate stage 20 and its dramatic mountain-top finish up a 23-kilometre ascent, owner and barista Thomas Eleizegui hosted his busiest day since opening three months ago.
The cafe is inclusive (no bicycle required) and the atmosphere is a finely curated blend of brightly coloured and vintage wool jerseys and art deco-like rows of musettes, the canvas lunch sacks carried by touring cyclists.
"Like what Lance did in the States, Ryder will do in Canada-100 per cent, for sure," said Eleizegui. "It's already elevating and it will even double now."
Twitter: @MHStewart
