[7] A climber and time trialist, he was selected by Discovery Channel for the 2005 Giro d'Italia and helped Paolo Savoldelli win, although failing to complete the course himself.

After 2005 he joined the Swiss team, Phonak, where he began to build some of his best results, finishing fourth in the 2006 Volta a Catalunya and second in the 2006 Canadian National Time Trial Championships.

Later that season he rode the Vuelta a España, although he dropped out near the end to concentrate on the UCI Road World Championships in Salzburg.

[8] He did not miss his chance days later on stage 12 however, when he detached himself from the favourites' group on the final climb to the Alto de Velefique.

In March, Hesjedal grabbed a good result at the Montepaschi Strade Bianche, an Italian race run partly on dirt roads.

[13] In April, Hesjedal earned a place on the podium in one of the Ardennes classics, the Amstel Gold Race, which ran through the Dutch hills for 257 kilometres (160 mi).

[15] During the Tour de France, Hesjedal finished 4th in the third stage, which featured some cobbled sections, after leading by himself for much of the race until being caught in the last 6 kilometres (3.7 miles).

[19] He placed in the top 7 for four of the six stages, but went from fifth overall to ninth after the final day individual time trial, where he came in a minute and 52 seconds behind Tony Martin.

[21] On the mountainous stage 16 concluding in Gap, Hesjedal came in sight of the finish line with his teammate Thor Hushovd and another Norwegian, Edvald Boasson Hagen.

He also rode the first 4 stages of the Tour de Romandie, but he did not complete the race[23] since Garmin–Barracuda wanted to keep him rested in preparation for the Giro d'Italia, where he would be the team's leader for the overall classification, while his team-mate Tyler Farrar's task would be to contest the sprint finishes.

[24] His Giro that year got off to a good start, Garmin–Barracuda won the team time trial and put Hesjedal in fourth overall and within reach of the overall lead.

This completed his journey of becoming the first Canadian to win a Grand Tour and only the second time ever that the pink jersey changed hands on the last day of the Giro.

[36] The Summer Olympics went on with underwhelming results from Hesjedal where he finished 63rd in the road race and 28th as Canada's lone entry in the time trial competition.

[39] He then looked to end his season on a high note at the Tour of Beijing, putting it all on the line on the hilly fifth stage, where he attacked relentlessly.

[42] Hesjedal rode some spring classics, including Liège–Bastogne–Liège, where he attempted a solo breakaway on the Côte de Colonster with about 15 km (9.3 mi) to cover.

[43] At the Giro d'Italia, Hesjedal was aggressive on the third stage, breaking away solo on the last climb and then imposing a hard tempo on the descent with rival Vincenzo Nibali, which caused a lot of riders to crash on the rain-soaked tarmac while trying to follow.

Hesjedal started the season by scoring a top 10 result in the overall classification of the Giro d'Italia, finishing in ninth position.

[47] On Stage 7 of the Vuelta a España, Hesjedal was in a breakaway of four that would make it to the line, but he crashed in a bend and a race motorcycle then accidentally rode on his bike.

[48] Controversy arose when it was noted that his bike continued to freewheel when he was on the ground after the crash, spinning as if the back wheel was propelled by an engine.

On Stage 14, Hesjedal was once again part of an early escape and took victory by passing Oliver Zaugg in the last 200 metres (660 feet) of the uphill finish, which had gradients of approximately 15%.

[57] On stage 20 featuring the unpaved Colle delle Finestre, Hesjedal gained some more time and passed Leopold König and Steven Kruijswijk on general classification after finishing once again second to Aru.

[60] In October 2013, following allegations in Michael Rasmussen's book "Yellow Fever", Hesjedal admitted to doping earlier in his career, describing it as his "part in the dark past of the sport".

Scientific research posted by USADA has noted both positive and negative long-term effects of PED use including physiological adaptations that can increase performance well after the final dosage.

[63] In 2004, fellow British Columbian racer Geoff Kabush failed to qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympics after Hesjedal and Seamus McGrath took Canada's two spots for the men's cross-country.

[66] Following the 2012 Giro d'Italia, Hesjedal helped start a charitable group called the "Ryders Cycling Society of Canada", whose stated aim is "to create and sustain opportunities for young Canadians to ride bicycles.

"[67] Hesjedal also auctioned a pink jersey he wore as leader of the General classification in the Giro d'Italia for $10,000, and distributed it to help young Canadian cyclists.