The first road stage of the 2007 Giro d’Italia held on the Italian island of
Sardinia was always going to be a sprinters benefit despite the technical nature
of the 205k route.

A number of breaks did feature along the road especially when the race hit
a few short climbs before a return to the flat final kilometres.

On the flat stuff and on schedule the Milram train of domestiques went to the front of the race hoping
to deliver their star Alessandro Petacchi to yet another Giro win.

When the final Milram rider peeled off in sight of the line Petacchi hit the
front, but on his wheel were Robbie McEwen (Predictor-Lotto) and Paolo Bettini
(Quick Step). Petacchi tried to hold them both off with no success as first
McEwen went past to win followed soon after by Bettini.

1. Robbie McEwen (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, 206km, 5:07:13 (40.232kph)
2. Paolo Bettini (I), Quick Step – s/t
3. Alessandro Petacchi (I), Milram
4. Assan Bazayev (Kaz), Astana
5. Maximilian Ariel (ARG), Panaria
6. Aliaksandr Usau (Blr), Ag2r Prevoyance
7. Rojas Gil Jose Joaquin (Sp), Caisse d’Epargne
8. Stefano Garzelli (I), Acqua & Sapone – Adria Mobil
9. Lorenzo Bernucci (I), T-Mobile
10. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel,

Overall
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) was a bit annoyed after his team mate claimed the
lead on stage
one, but all was put right when Di Luca placed higher than Enrico Gasparotto
on stage two and he took over the lead.

1. Danilo Di Luca (I), Liquigas, 5:40:51
2. Enrico Gasparotto (I), Liquigas, 0:00
3. Vincenzo Nibali (I), Liquigas, 0:00
4. Charles Wegelius (GB), Liquigas, 0:00
5. Andrea Noe’ (I), Liquigas, 0:00
6. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas, 0:00
7. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Astana, 0:13
8. Andrey Mizourov (Kaz), Astana, 0:13
9. Eddy Mazzoleni (I), Astana, 0:13
10. Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz), Astana, 0:13