O Canada: Four of the nation's best hit the Vuelta

When Canadian Ryder Hesjedal starts this year's Vuelta a España prologue on Saturday, he will do so in the company of three of his compatriots. In a season that has witnessed a gradual shift in the balance of cycling nations, it seems only appropriate that in the final Grand Tour of the year Canada should get in on the act with its own sudden spike in rider numbers.