Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing) has won the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia.
The 21-year-old American was the fastest man over the 8.7km individual time trial course around the streets of the Danish town of Herning.
He finished nine seconds ahead of second-placed Geraint Thomas (Team Sky), the Welshman continuing the excellent time trial form that carried him to victory in the Tour de Romandie prologue last month.
Denmark’s Alex Rasmussen (Garmin Barracuda) rounded out the podium with a time just two seconds slower than that of Thomas.
Defending champion, Michele Scarponi, who finished second on the road in 2011 but inherited the title after the disqualification of Alberto Contador, made a disappointing start to his bid to win the title on the road.
Scarponi finished 135th today, 1.06 down on Phinney. His Lampre-ISD co-leader, Damiano Cunego, fared slightly better, finishing 124th, 1.03 down on the stage winner.
Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda), leader of Garmin-Barracuda, was 24th at 29 seconds, while Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) finished 43 seconds down on Phinney in 44th place.
Mark Cavendish (Team Sky) put in a creditable performance against the clock to finish 47 seconds off the winning time to claim 60th place.
The riders will remain in Herning for tomorrow’s 206km flat stage, which Phinney will start in the maglia rosa – the pink jersey of race leader.
Rasmussen would love to take the jersey from Phinney while the race remains on home soil, while Team Sky’s well drilled squad will look to place Thomas in a position to gain the seconds required to move into the overall lead of the race.
Giro d’Italia stage one – result
1) Taylor Phinney (USA) – BMC Racing Team – 10.26
2) Geraint Thomas (GBR) – Team Sky +9”
3) Alex Rasmussen (DEN) – Garmin-Barracuda +13”
4) Manuele Boaro (ITA) – Saxo Bank +15”
5) Erik Gustav Larsson (SWE) – Vacansoleil-DCM +22”
6) Ramunas Navardauskas (LTU) – Garmin-Barracuda
7) Brett Lancaster (AUS) – Orica-GreenEdge +23”
8) Marco Pinotti (ITA) – BMC Racing Team +24”
9) Jesse Sergent (NZL) – RadioShack-Nissan-Trek +26”
10) Nelson Oliveira (POR) – RadioShack-Nissan-Trek +27”
General classification
1) Taylor Phinney (USA) – BMC Racing Team – 10.26
2) Geraint Thomas (GBR) – Team Sky +9”
3) Alex Rasmussen (DEN) – Garmin-Barracuda +13”
4) Manuele Boaro (ITA) – Saxo Bank +15”
5) Erik Gustav Larsson (SWE) – Vacansoleil-DCM +22”
6) Ramunas Navardauskas (LTU) – Garmin-Barracuda
7) Brett Lancaster (AUS) – Orica-GreenEdge +23”
8) Marco Pinotti (ITA) – BMC Racing Team +24”
9) Jesse Sergent (NZL) – RadioShack-Nissan-Trek +26”
10) Nelson Oliveira (POR) – RadioShack-Nissan-Trek +27”
