"There's no way you stand on the podium at the end of this race and not be the strongest and most complete rider" - Ryder Hesjedal gives insight into what it takes to become a Giro d'Italia winner

Retired since 2016, Ryder Hesjedal, the former Giro d'Italia winner is back in Italy, this time as a fan and has given an insight into what it will take to don the famed Maglia Rosa in Rome.

Geraint Thomas is the current race leader, but with plenty of climbing still to come in the final days, there is still much to be decided. "This race is always about the last week. You can have one good moment in the last week, or a bad moment to change everything. I know that quite well. We'll see," said the Canadian, who won the 2012 edition of the race in an interview with Cycling News.

Hesjedal's victory over a decade ago came in one of the closest general classification battles of all time. Riding for Team Garmin - Barracuda, the Canadian edged out Joaquim Rodríguez by just 16 seconds. Fast forward to this year and another incredibly close battle is on the cards with just 29 seconds separating the entirety of the podium at the start of the 18th stage.

"I don't want to jinx anybody. I think everyone tries to get through the best they can and there's still a lot of pedalling still to go even though they are on stage 17 today, it sounds like it is almost over but it's not even close," says Hesjedal. "They know what's ahead of them. There's no way you stand on the podium at the end of this race and not be the strongest and most complete rider."