Ryder Hesjedal showed he can compete with the very best in a silver medal performance last year at the world mountain bike championships. He was also part of Canada's winning relay teams at the 2001 and 2002 worlds. Last year he won the overall title on the North American circuit and was a silver medallist in the espoir race (under 23) at the 2001 worlds and at the 1998 world juniors
Hesjedal's world championship success hasn't carried over on the World Cup this season. He was ranked 12th this year on the World Cup mountain bike circuit after five of seven events.
But he may have a lot on his mind in 2004 with the Olympics and with signing a road racing contract with U.S. Postal Service, one of the top racing teams in the worlds. He competed at some events this year for the squad and potentially faces a decision whether to pursue road racing full time after the Olympics.
