Ryder Hesjedal joins Trek Factory Racing

Ryder Hesjedal is leaving Cannondale-Garmin to join Trek Factory Racing and will be targeting a repeat of his 2012 Giro d’Italia victory next season.

The Canadian, aged 34, leaves Jonathan Vaughters team after nine seasons that brought him two stage wins in both the Giro and the Vuelta, seventh overall in the 2010 Tour de France, a year in which he was also second in the Amstel Gold Race.

Hesjedal, fifth overall in this year’s Giro d’Italia, won by Alberto Contador of Tinkoff-Saxo, said: “I am very excited about this. Trek’s management and I are on the same page in terms of what we can achieve together. I know that I still have podium level legs for the Grand Tours.”

“The Ardennes Classics will be important as well,” he went on. “You basically work backwards with the Giro being the number one goal. The rhythm to get to your best shape in the Giro leads you to those races. I know the routine to get there.”

Referring to his time with Cannondale-Garmin, he said; “I have excellent memories from the past seasons and I have a lot of friends there. But I’m thrilled about this change of air. I believe it’s what I needed.”

He added: “People ask me if I’m contemplating the end of my career. If I was, the circle would now be complete. The truth is I don’t really know how long I’ll still be racing.

“As far as performance goes, and how I feel, I feel there’s still a lot in there. This year’s Giro was a confirmation of that. But yes, I don’t see myself racing for another five years. One, two or three, we’ll see."

With the 2012 Giro d'Italia ending with an individual time trial in Milan, the race provided a rare example of the leadership of the General Classification ending on the final day as Hesjedal overhauled Katusha's Joaquim Rodriguez to win the maglia rosa - the only Grand Tour victory by a Canadian rider.

– Ryder Hesjedal wins the Giro on final day in Milan

Trek Factory Racing general manager Luca Guercilena commented: "This is an excellent signing for our team and I have no doubt our fans in North America will be very happy as well. Ryder is a very strong racer and he has a very constant performance.”

"Welcoming a Grand Tour winner makes us feel very proud. “I believe he will be a good fit for our team.”

Two years ago Hesjedal, who rode for US Postal and its successor team Discovery Channel in 2004 and 2005, hinted that he had doped earlier in his career, saying he had chosen “the wrong path.”

– 2012 Giro champion Ryder Hesjedal admits to doping

He was also at the centre of allegations of mechanical doping at last year’s Vuelta, after TV footage showed the rear wheel of his bike continuing to spin after a crash – claims he rejected as “ridiculous.”

– Videos: Ryder Hesjedal reacts to mechanical doping claims