CyclingRevealed's Giro '08 Perspective

Tappa 1- May 10th, Palermo to Palermo, 23.6 km Team Time Trial

Prima Tappa

Palermo provided a beautiful backdrop for the 23.6 km stage 1 Team Time Trial. Possibly the most spectacular sight in elite road racing is the Team Time Trial. Each team is immaculately turned out in matching outfits and on super high-end time trial bikes that cost a fortune. The best teams will ride most of the distance in perfect formation at speeds consistently exceeding 50 km/h. (See our special TTT description All for One, One for All.)

Team Milram drew the first start position with each of the 21 other team off at 5 minute intervals.

American team Slipstream-Chipotle, the fifth team to finish, posted the early time to beat. Finish the course with only 5 riders Slipstream posted a time of 26'32” (33.08 mph).

Christain Vander Velde leads David Zabriskie, Ryder Hesjedal, Julian Dean, and Magnus Backstedt (mouth wide open) ( Images © La Gazetta )

One of the pre-race favorites Astana went through the 10.4 km time check at +9”. Slowed in the second half and finished 7th .

Team CSC always prides itself on their ability in the TTT. CSC rode well but came up just short 6 seconds behind Slipstream in second place.

Team CSC flies along the harbor ( Images © La Gazetta )

American Christian Vander Velde was the first riders across the finish line and was the first rider to put on the Maglia Rosa in 2008.

Race Leader Slipstream's Christian Vander Velde ( Images © La Gazetta )

Top team results:
xxx1 Slipstream-Chipotle 26'32” (Vander Velde, team leader)
xxx2 Team CSC 26'38” (Voigt, team leader)
xxx3 High Road 26'39” (Cavendish, team leader)
xxx4 Liquigas 26'40” (Pellizotti, team leader)
xxx5 Barloworld 26'45” (Gasparotto, team leader)
xxx6 LPR 27.00 (Di Luca, defending Giro champion)
xxx7 Astana 27'01” (Leipheimer, team leader)

Maglia Rosa (Pink Jersey , race leader)
Christian Vander Velde ( USA ), Slipstream-Chipotle

All for One and One for All

Tomorrow : the race embarks on its first road stage and many riders will still be seeing pink as they dream of reaching Milano in the much coveted jersey.

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