You know you’ve arrived when your name appears above the title.

Ryder Hesjedal’s Tour de Victoria was unveiled for June 24, even though the cyclist likely won’t be here to take part in the event that is more a community ride than a race.

High on the mist-shrouded slopes of the Pyrenees, Ryder Hesjedal was poised to make his mark on Canadian professional road cycling. Stage 17 of the 2010 Tour de France had him pushing hard up the western side of the Col de Tourmalet, one of the race’s most torturous ascents. As the newly minted front man for Garmin-Transitions—team leaders Christian Vande Velde and Tyler Farrar withdrew due to injuries suffered in stage two—Hesjedal steeled his resolve and met the punishing 18.6 kilometres climb head on.

Ryder Hesjedal won’t be hard to spot at the Tour de France: He’ll be the guy pushing maple syrup on his teammates every morning at breakfast.

Kind of fitting for the lone Canuck racing in cycling’s most prestigious race this year.

When Hesjedal’s stock started to soar during last year’s Tour de France en route to a stunning seventh-place finish overall, his cycling team came up with a T-shirt — Ryder Hesjedal: Weight of a Nation. It’s become his nickname on the Garmin-Cervelo squad.

It’s even more applicable this year as Hesjedal was an unknown to most outside the cycling community entering the 2010 race. But if you think he’s feeling any pressure due to his increase in status, you’ve got the wrong guy.