After turning heads in 1st 2 weeks of Giro, Canada's Derek Gee looks to finish strong

Derek Gee is going through hell and loving it.

The 25-year-old from Ottawa, the lone Canadian rider in the Giro d'Italia, has been a revelation in his first Grand Tour with three second-place finishes and a fourth in the first two weeks for the Israel-Premier Tech team.

Asked if he had expected to make such a splash during the gruelling 21-stage, 3,489.2-kilometre race, Gee admitted he has surprised even himself.

Gee stands 32nd in the general classification standings, 26:01 behind leader Bruno Armirail of France. He also stands second in the points race behind Italy's Jonathan Milan and seventh in the King of the Mountains classification.

Now he looks to make his mark as the riders head to the Dolomites and a gruelling final week.

Gee was slated to support Domenico Pozzovivo's general classification campaign but the veteran Italian's race was cut short when he contracted COVID. Now Gee is leading the team in the GC with Italian teammate Marco Frigo three places behind in 35th.

There is more pain to come.

Three of the last six stages have been given the maximum difficulty rating of five stars, starting Tuesday with the 203-kilometre Stage 16 with 5,200 metres of elevation from Sabbio Chiese to Monte Bondone, including a top-category climb to the finish.

Stages 18 and 19 later in the week feature more mountains.

"It's pretty cruel," Gee said cheerfully. "There's quite a few hard days between now and Rome [where the race ends next Sunday after a time trial in the penultimate stage].

"Although the confidence has been growing throughout this race, it's still quite a daunting task."

His goals this week include making a run at the race's combativity award and securing a stage win. Gee came within half a wheel of catching German Nico Denz in a furious sprint finish Saturday on Stage 14.

The Giro takes a toll. Gee says he is "fully drained" each day when he gets off the bike.

"And that's a big part of why I think I can look back at three second places and a fourth with very few or no regrets," he said. "I gave everything out there to try and win a stage in the first two weeks. And missed it but for sure that was everything I had."