Trek Factory Racing has announced the signing of 2012 Giro d’Italia champion Ryder Hesjedal.

Hesjedal joins the team as a General Classification leader, notably for Italy’s Grand Tour, which holds a special place in the heart of the 34-year-old Canadian. He finished fifth in the latest edition of the race.

“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," he said.

“The Ardennes Classics will be important as well,” says Hesjedal, who has a series of top ten placings in the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège - most notably his second place in the AGR in 2010. “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.”

General Manager Luca Guercilena is very pleased with the arrival of Hesjedal. "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,” continues Guercilena. “I believe he will be a good fit for our team.”

Hesjedal joins Trek Factory Racing from Cannondale-Garmin, a team where he spent no less than eight seasons. “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.”

Hesjedal began his road career on a Trek, and now finds himself back to his road bicycle roots. “Back on a Trek, yes, that’s true,” says Hesjedal. “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. "