CYCLING:Ryder Hesjedal became the first Canadian to win a Grand Tour when he snatched victory in the 2012 Giro d'Italia yesterday after faultless riding in the final time trial.

The 31-year-old Garmin rider overturned a 31-second deficit on the last day to leave Spain’s long-time race leader Joaquim Rodriguez in second overall and Belgium’s Thomas De Gendt third.

“I didn’t really think I was going to win until about five kilometres to the finish,” Hesjedal, who was in tears on the final podium, told reporters. “It’s hard to describe. This is a dream come true, since the first day I pulled on the pink jersey I believed I had a chance in this race.”

Hesjedal ended up triumphing by 16 seconds after being sixth quickest on the last stage through the streets of Milan, won by Italy’s Marco Pinotti. It was a rare example of the pink jersey changing hands on the last day and was the first time since 1995 that there was no Italian on the Giro final podium.

Only the final time trial produced a definitive victory for Hesjedal.