Please join us for live blogging of Stage 1 of the Giro d’Italia. Live coverage will begin at 23.40 AEST with comments being added to this post as the race progresses.
The 2012 edition of the Giro d’Italia is set to kick off in style, with an 8.7km individual time trial through the streets of Herning, Denmark.
With an open field assembled for the year’s first Grand Tour, the battle for supremacy in the general classification (GC) – and the maglia rosa (pink leader’s jersey) – should be closely fought.
Italian stalwarts Michele Scarponi (Lampre – ISD) and Ivan Basso (Liquigas – Cannondale) are two of the favourites for overall honours.
While the pair hold high hopes for the GC, neither are recognised time trialists and are unlikely to feature prominently in the stage 1 prologue.
In the absence of time trial powerhouses Fabian Cancellara (Radioshack – Nissan) and Tony Martin (Omega Pharma – Quickstep) due to injury, it is hard to pick a clear favourite for the Giro’s first maglia rosa.
Riders to watch include young American Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing), Welshman Geraint Thomas (Sky Pro Cycling) and Dane Alex Rasmussen (Garmin – Barracuda).
Phinney has identified winning the prologue as one of his main targets for the race. The 21-year-old is no stranger to leading a race. He was part of the team from BMC Racing that won the team time trial at the Giro del Trentino last month. As first finisher over the line he earned the leader’s jersey in that race, his first Italian success.
Thomas is in an interesting phase of his cycling career. Openly concentrating on his role in Great Britain’s track cycling team for the 2012 London Olympics, he will not ride the Tour de France. A winning performance at the just-completed Tour of Romandie showed Thomas is unlikely to be held back by a case of “track legs” at the Giro. Even with bigger question marks over his form, it would be a mistake to write off the spirited Thomas.
The predominantly flat roads that comprise the prologue should suit Rasmussen. With the race kicking off in his home country, he will be keen to impress in front of an adoring home crowd.
Other contenders for a spot on the stage 1 podium are first wearer of the maglia rosa at the 2011 Giro Marco Pinotti (BMC Racing), Dutchman Stef Clement (Rabobank) and the smoky on course Australian Jack Bobridge (Orica-GreenEDGE).
Please join us for live blogging of Stage 1. Live coverage will begin at 23.40 AEST with comments being added to this post as the race progresses.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Phenomenal ride.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
What an entertaining opening stage of the 2012 Giro d'Italia! A quality TT with fast rides from the pre-stage favourites Phinney, Thomas and Rasmussen. The top 5 for the stage: Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing) [10'26"], Geraint Thomas (Sky Pro Cycling) [+9"], Alex Rasmussen (Garmin-Barracuda) [+13"], Manuele Boaro (Lampre-ISD) [+15"0 and Gustav Larsson (Vacansoleil-DCM) [+22"]. The first pink jersey of the Giro goes to America's Taylor Phinney. He predicted this himself. Let's see if he can hold onto it tomorrow on what should be a day for the sprinters, once again in the streets of Herning.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Scarponi crosses the finish line well down the standings.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Scarponi is well off the leader's pace here. Not known for his time trialling ability, even this performance may be considered poor come the finish line.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Ivan Basso has done well for a non-time trial specialist with the 33rd quickest time of the stage. Will be hard for Scarponi to rival that.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Pozzato has the 19th fastest time.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) is on the course. And here goes Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) - widely considered the main contender for the overall victory.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
The bright, BRIGHT get up of Farnese Vini's Filippo Pozzato is blinding spectators as it flies along the 8.7km course. He'll be seeking stage wins in his home Grand Tour!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Dutch time trial champion Stef Clement is next down the ramp. This live blogger said he'd give the top finishers a run for their money. Let's see how he goes!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Third ranked time for Alex Rasmussen in front of his home crowd - 10'39"!
brod
Roar Rookie
Looks like its a podium finish...third
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Frank Schleck (Radioshack-Nissan) - reportedly unprepared for the Giro - rolls out of the start. Lots of big names on the course now!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) joins the fray, not long to go now for those Australian readers in need of a sleep (myself included)!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) is on his way!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Alex Rasmussen (Garmin-Barracuda) has rolled onto the streets of his home country, he will have to dig deep to get the stage victory after such dominant performances from Thomas and Phinney.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
French hero John Gadret (AG2R La Mondiale) has just exited the start gates. Off he goes!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Phinney (BMC Racing) has gone faster than Thomas! Smoked the fastest time by a whopping nine seconds, recording 10'26"! BOOM!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Phenomenal ride from Geraint Thomas (Sky Pro Cycling), shattering the previous best time of Baoro by six seconds - 10'35". Huge. American Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing) will have to pull off a super ride if he is to beat that effort!
brod
Roar Rookie
Not for long...Thomas takes 6 seconds off it
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Manuele Boaro from Saxo Bank has the new best time! Enormous effort from the Italian - 10'41"!