Yesterdays opening stage (Mons – Charlerioi-Marcinelle) of the Giro d’ Italia was text book for a big tour, long (197 kilometers) and flat with only one small “hill” half way through the day. Such stages allow the sprinters to flex their muscles and scrap it out between one another, the last 20 k’s were an impressive thing to watch on OLN. The peleton was averaging close to 60 kilometers per hour as team Milram controlled things and kept the pace blistering fast making it near impossible for anyone to breakaway in the last few kilometers. Within the last 5 kilometers Team Milram was amazing, that is except for their leader who totally dropped the ball after a perfect lead out. Petacchi must not have been feeling good, or he really screwed up his timing as he finished 4rth overall. While fourth place is not bad with the lead out he had I found it hard to believe he was able to finish in that position.
Robbie McEwen however was spot on, McEwen had Petacchi’s wheel over the last 5 kilometers and simply waited for the perfect time. When he jumped know one could come around him and he won the sprint finish by one bike length. Also willing to fight it out for the win was Paolo Bettini who had mentioned days earlier he would love to wear the Maglia Rosa if only for a few days. Bettini who rides for QuickStep looked awesome wearing his gold helmet and cycling shoes (Paolo Bettini has been wearing gold cycling accessories ever since he won at the Olympics) and was able to place third overall which did give him a small time bonus. After the race Bettini mentioned he wanted to test his legs after a long stage and was happy with his third place finish, however he mentioned that he only a few seconds he was simply too far down to think about the pink jersey and would concentrate on stage wins moving forward in the coming days.
Paolo Savoldelli had no issues during the stage and was near the front in the closing kilometers as to stay out of trouble. The Discovery Channel rider mentioned in an interview after the time trial on Saturday that he would not defend the jersey this early into the race. However with the team time trial just days away one has to wonder if he might start changing his mind as that event draws closer. With Petacchi only placing fourth over all in the bunch sprint yesterday he did not receive enough of a time bonus to displace the pink jersey from Savoldelli. Being the only real sprinter in the bunch that is close enough to Savoldelli to take the Maglia Rosa from him Petacchi might have missed his chance, of course today is another stage that will please the likes of McEwen and Petacchi.
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