TORONTO - Canadian Ryder Hesjedal will lead the Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling team at the Giro d'Italia which starts this weekend.

The 34-year-old from Victoria won the race in 2012, the first Canadian to claim a Grand Tour cycling event.

Hesjedal leads a nine-man team in the 3,486-kilometre race that starts Saturday

The veteran Canadian was ninth last year.