Tour of Italy: Prologue

First Pink jersey of the 2012 Tour of Italy goes to Taylor Phinney of BMC with Geraint Thomas in second place.

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In the first battle in the three week Tour of Italy, the first Grand Tour of 2012, Taylor Phinney bossed his rivals out of contention with a super win, nine seconds clear of Geraint Thomas who had only just done the same when he went fastest a few minutes before.

Taylor Phinney of the BMC Racing Team averaged more than 50 kilometers an hour Saturday to win the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia in Herning, Denmark, and become only the third American to wear the maglia rosa of race leader. Starting 17th-to-last of the 198 riders, Phinney blazed across the 8.7-kilometer course on his BMC TM01 in 10:26. In taking the lead of the three-week race, Phinney joins Christian Vande Velde (2008) and Andy Hampsten (1988) as the only U.S. riders to lead the Giro in its 95-year history.

Afterwards, the Boulder, Colo., resident said he was confident heading into his first Giro. “I’ve been thinking about this for a really long time, this jersey and this win,” Phinney said. “I knew warming up today I felt really good and I’ve done a lot to prepare for it. I have to thank the team for supporting me and putting me on the perfect trajectory to get to this race – especially (BMC Racing Team Assistant Director) Max Sciandri, who lives near me (in Italy).”

Phinney said he rode the course “about 10 times” in the days leading up to the race, with his final reconnaissance being key. “It was important to get on the course today because of the way they set up the barriers,” he said. “It was a little bit different than the way they were the other days.”

Phinney said he would like to hold onto the race lead until the race returns to Italy for Stage 4 Wednesday. “We’ll take it day-by-day,” he said. “But I’d like to keep it until at least the team time trial in Verona. To be able to sport it in Italy would be pretty special.” Saturday’s victory was the BMC Racing Team’s second stage win in three Giro appearances, adding to one by Cadel Evans in 2010. Evans is also the only other BMC Racing Team rider to wear the maglia rosa (also in 2010).

The overall favourites came and went today without getting near the time of Phinney with the likes of Frank Schleck a minute down. Highlights included a great 14th place for Jack Bauer who ride for Endura Racing for two seasons. Ian Stannard finished in 41st, 43 seconds down on Phinney while world Road Race Champion Mark Cavendish was at 47 seconds in 58th place. Peter Kennaugh, who like Thomas has just come off the track, was 66th at 49 seconds while late standin for Ben Swift, jeremy Hunt, cruised in a minute thirteen down in 154th place.

Second for Britain’s Geraint Thomas

Geraint Thomas meanwhile was happy with the ride saying to Team Sky website “I think I measured it pretty well. I tried to carry my speed through the corners, one or two I could have gone a bit faster but losing by nine seconds I can’t blame it on a couple of corners. Coming from the track, there’s a temptation to try and sprint fast out of those corners but that would obviously take a lot out of me so it was all about judging it correctly which I think I did.”

“I definitely tried to keep a bit back for the last 3k and that headwind and I just tried to empty the tank all the way to the line. It didn’t feel amazing but I was obviously going okay and am happy to have been up there.”

Thomas had won the 3.3km prologue at the Tour of Romandie just under two week ago and was one of the favourite for the Giro prologue. “It’s tough – obviously the prologue in Romandie was perfect for me coming from the track but I’d also only been back from Australia a couple of weeks so it was nice to get the win there. It was then really hard racing for four days there so the lead up to this has been about recovering.”

“There are now another 20 stages to go and at the end of the day it’s about the bigger picture – I’ll be there in the sprints for Cav and then hopefully finish this race well which will set me up nicely for the Olympics. For me personally I just want to take the chances to race hard when I can and these next few days are perfect for that. As soon as we start hitting the climbs I’m not going to be able to be up near the front given all the track work I’ve done so I’m just really looking forward to the next week and we’ll see what we can do with Cav.”

RESULT

1 Taylor Phinney Bmc 10:26
2 Geraint Thomas Sky @9 Seconds
3 Alex Rasmussen Grm @13
4 Manuele Boaro Sax @15
5 Gustav Larsson Vcd @22
6 Ramunas Navardauskas Grm @22
7 Brett Lancaster GreenEdge@23
8 Marco Pinotti Bmc @24
9 Jesse Sergent Rnt @26
10 Nelson Filipe Santos Simoes Oliveira Rnt @27
11 Tomas Vaitkus Oge @27
12 Stef Clement Rab @28
13 Robert Hunter Grm @28
14 Jack Bauer Grm @28
15 Maciej Bodnar Liq @29
16 Ryder Hesjedal Grm @29
17 Michal Kwiatkowski Opq @29
18 Enrico Gasparotto Ast @29
19 Dario Cataldo Opq @31
20 Giacomo Nizzolo Rnt @32
21 Thomas De Gendt Vcd @32
22 Filippo Pozzato Far @32
23 Julien Vermote Opq @33
24 Adriano Malori Lam @33
25 Svein Tuft Oge @33
26 Fabio Sabatini Liq @34
27 Jan Barta App @34
28 Roman Kreuziger Ast @36
29 Tanel Kangert Ast @36
30 Marco Coledan Cog @36
31 Tyler Farrar Grm @36
32 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni Sky @37
33 Luke Roberts Sax @37
34 Alessandro Ballan Bmc @39
35 Martijn Keizer Vcd @39
36 Ivan Basso Liq @39
37 Jan Bakelants Rnt @41
38 Martin Velits Opq @41
39 Giovanni Visconti Mov @41
40 Benat Intxausti Elorriaga Mov @42
41 Ian Stannard Sky @43
42 Daryl Impey Oge @43
43 Sébastien Rosseler Grm @43
44 Marzio Bruseghin Mov @43
45 Thomas Rohregger Rnt @43
46 Dennis Van Winden Rab @43
47 Matthias Brandle App @43
48 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver Kat @43
49 Fabio Felline And @44
50 Christian Vandevelde Grm @44
51 Peter Stetina Grm @45
52 Geoffrey Soupe Fdj @45
53 Bernhard Eisel Sky @46
54 Daniel Moreno Fernandez Kat @46
55 Rigoberto Uran Uran Sky @46
56 Francis De Greef Ltb @46
57 Sandy Casar Fdj @46
58 Mark Cavendish Sky @47
59 Damiano Caruso Liq @47
60 Paolo Tiralongo Ast @47
61 Branislau Samoilau Mov @47
62 Valerio Agnoli Liq @48
63 Alexander Kristoff Kat @48
64 Bartosz Huzarski App @49
65 José Herrada Lopez Mov @49
66 Peter Kennaugh Sky @49
67 Daniele Bennati Rnt @49
68 Thor Hushovd Bmc @49
69 Eros Capecchi Liq @49
70 Gianni Meersman Ltb @50
71 Jens Keukeleire Oge @50
72 Reto Hollenstein App @50
73 Angel Vicioso Arcos Kat @51
74 Alessandro De Marchi And @51
75 Tom Jelte Slagter Rab @51
76 Christian Meier Oge @51
77 Thomas Leezer Rab @52
78 Brian Bulgac Ltb @52
79 Michal Golas Opq @52
80 Daniel Schorn App @52
81 Matteo Rabottini Far @52
82 Andrey Amador Bakkazakova Mov @53
83 Graeme Brown Rab @53
84 Matteo Tosatto Sax @53
85 Grischa Niermann Rab @53
86 Bart De Clercq Ltb @53
87 Jussi Veikkanen Fdj @53
88 Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi Mov @53
89 Lars Ytting Bak Ltb @53
90 Alexsandr Dyachenko Ast @54
91 Sonny Colbrelli Cog @54
92 Matthew Harley Goss Oge @55
93 Gaetan Bille Ltb @55
94 Domenico Pozzovivo Cog @55
95 Lucas Sebastian Haedo Sax @56
96 Mathias Frank Bmc @56
97 Elia Favilli Far @56
98 Serge Pauwels Opq @56
99 Juan José Haedo Sax @56
100 Jonas Aaen Jörgensen Sax @57
101 Sergey Lagutin Vcd @57
102 Diego Ulissi Lam @57
103 Stefan Denifl Vcd @58
104 Mirko Selvaggi Vcd @58
105 Gatis Smukulis Kat @58
106 Juan Jose Oroz Ugalde Eus @58
107 Matteo Montaguti Alm @58
108 Marco Bandiera Opq @59
109 Timon Seubert App @59
110 Angelo Pagani Cog @59
111 Kevin Seeldraeyers Ast @59
112 Sylvester Szmyd Liq @59
113 Frank Schleck Rnt @59
114 Jack Bobridge Oge @1:00
115 Pavel Brutt Kat @1:00
116 Tomasz Marczynski Vcd @1:00
117 Mickael Delage Fdj @1:01
118 Enrico Battaglin Cog @ 1:01
119 Sacha Modolo Cog @ 1:01
120 Mikhail Ignatyev Kat @ 1:02
121 Evgeny Petrov Ast @ 1:03
122 Francis Mourey Fdj @ 1:03
123 Nikolas Maes Opq @ 1:03
124 Sergio Luis Henao Montoya Sky @ 1:03
125 Damiano Cunego Lam @ 1:03
126 Daniele Righi Lam @ 1:04
127 Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez And @ 1:04
128 Alfredo Balloni Far @ 1:05
129 Stefano Locatelli Cog @ 1:05
130 Stefano Pirazzi Cog @ 1:05
131 Ben Hermans Rnt @ 1:05
132 Amets Txurruka Eus @ 1:05
133 Andreas Schillinger App @ 1:05
134 Dominique Rollin Fdj @ 1:06
135 William Bonnet Fdj @ 1:06
136 Simone Ponzi Ast @ 1:06
137 Juan Manuel Garate Rab @ 1:06
138 Michele Scarponi Lam @ 1:06
139 Danilo Wyss Bmc @ 1:07
140 Andreas Dietziker App @ 1:07
141 Adam Hansen Ltb @ 1:07
142 José Rujano Guillen And @ 1:07
143 Olivier Kaisen Ltb @ 1:09
144 Roberto Ferrari And @ 1:09
145 Matteo Carrara Vcd @ 1:10
146 Fumiyuki Beppu Oge @ 1:10
147 Pier Paolo De Negri Far @ 1:10
148 Alberto Losada Alguacil Kat @ 1:11
149 Sergio Pardilla Bellon Mov @ 1:11
150 Gregor Gazvoda Alm @ 1:11
151 Hubert Dupont Alm @ 1:12
152 Cesare Benedetti App @ 1:12
153 Volodymir Gustov Sax @ 1:13
154 Jeremy Hunt Sky @ 1:13
155 Mauro Santambrogio Bmc @ 1:13
156 Mathieu Perget Alm @ 1:14
157 Jon Izaguirre Insausti Eus @ 1:14
158 Emanuele Sella And @ 1:14
159 Francesco Failli Far @ 1:15
160 Aliaksandr Kuschynski Kat @ 1:16
161 Theo Bos Rab @ 1:16
162 John Gadret Alm @ 1:16
163 Alessandro Spezialetti Lam @ 1:17
164 Julien Berard Alm @ 1:17
165 Matteo Bono Lam @ 1:18
166 Gabriel Rasch Fdj @ 1:19
167 Przemyslaw Niemiec Lam @ 1:19
168 Paolo Longo Borghini Liq @ 1:19
169 Oscar Gatto Far @ 1:19
170 Mikel Nieve Ituralde Eus @ 1:19
171 Adrian Saez Eus @ 1:20
172 Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez And @ 1:20
173 Dennis Vanendert Ltb @ 1:20
174 Mark Renshaw Rab @ 1:20
175 Johann Tschopp Bmc @ 1:20
176 Daniele Pietropolli Lam @ 1:21
177 Francesco Chicchi Opq @ 1:21
178 Anders Lund Sax @ 1:22
179 Arnaud Demare Fdj @ 1:22
180 Manuel Belletti Alm @ 1:23
181 Guillaume Bonnafond Alm @ 1:25
182 Oliver Zaugg Rnt @ 1:26
183 Miguel Minguez Ayala Eus @ 1:27
184 Ivan Santaromita Bmc @ 1:27
185 Pablo Lastras Garcia Mov @ 1:27
186 Andrea Guardini Far @ 1:27
187 Gianluca Brambilla Cog @ 1:28
188 Victor Cabedo Eus @ 1:29
189 Romain Feillu Vcd @ 1:30
190 Ben Gastauer Alm @ 1:30
191 Mads Christensen Sax @ 1:30
192 Jackson Rodriguez And @ 1:32
193 Luca Mazzanti Far @ 1:32
194 Andrey Zeits Ast @ 1:33
195 Cristiano Salerno Liq @ 1:34
196 Pierre Cazaux Eus @ 1:38
197 Carlos José Ochoa And @ 1:39
198 Ivan Velasco Murillo Eus @ 1:44

 

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