- By Gregg Bleakney
- Published 1 hour ago
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It ain’t easy being pink
After losing his maglia rosa to Rodríguez on stage 10, Hesjedal explains to VeloNews reporters Andrew Hood and Gregor Brown how it felt to be in pink. He also told them that he was looking forward to getting into the big climbs near the end of the race. He made good on this subtle forecast by capturing pink again on stage 14, the Giro’s first true high mountain day. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
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It ain’t easy being pink
Ryder clings to the fence near the finish line after losing the pink jersey to Joaquim Rodríguez on the final 1km climb into Assisi in stage 10. Hesjedal would only lose his grip for a few days, however. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
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It ain’t easy being pink
The pink jersey is also accompanied to the starting line by the Giro’s podium girls before each stage. It’s yet another distraction from quietly arriving to the final week of mountain stages with as much focus and energy as possible. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
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It ain’t easy being pink
Teams in with the pink jersey usually make the star athlete available for VIP access before stages. Here, Ryder signs jerseys for Garmin employees before stage 10. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
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It ain’t easy being pink
Hesjedal, at his mandatory international press interview at the end of stage 8, nearly one hour after finishing the stage. Although there is a time cap to the interview duration, in the past, other maglia rosa-clad GC contenders have paid a fine and skipped straight to the team hotel — as Alberto Contador did in 2011. Photo: Gregg Bleakney
