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Lancaster wins Giro prologue
Aussie Brett Lancaster (Ceramica Panaria-Navigare) put his gold-medal track skills to good use Saturday evening, winning the short prologue to kick-start the 88th Giro d'Italia and grab the first maglia rosa.
The 25-year-old from Victoria posted a time of 1 minute, 20 seconds for the 1.15km prologue, run under brilliant spring skies in Reggio Calabria, with Sicily and the brooding Mt. Etna in the backdrop.
The course was peculiar for a grand-tour prologue; long and straight, with nary a curve, it was a drag strip for the start of what should be an exciting corsa rosa.
But it suited Lancaster, a Tour de Langkawi stage-winner who took gold last August in the men’s team pursuit during the Athens Olympics, and stands as the biggest win in his professional road career.
"My track background definitely helped me," said Lancaster, who averaged 51.750kmh. "Other riders started very hard, but I knew I had to gradually build up speed and finish fast, pushing a big gear as hard as I could."
Lancaster told Agence France Presse that Saturday's performance was just as satisfying as his Olympic gold medal.
"The two things are totally different, and this year I really wanted to do well on the road, so it's great to have won, but my gold medal was special. I'd put them on the same par as victories."
Lancaster was something of a surprise winner on a day when many expected the strong legion of current and former track riders to shine. He nipped three other riders who all finished within one second, including Fassa Bortolo teammates Matteo Tosatto and Alessandro Petacchi - who took a really long sprint and almost snagged the jersey - and 2002 Giro champion Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel).
Olaf Pollack (T-Mobile), Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis), Jaan Kirsipuu (Crédit Agricole) and Sergio Escobar (Illes Balears) all finished just two seconds off the winning pace.
Defending champion Damiano Cunego (Lampre), the last of 197 riders to start, finished 4 seconds behind.
Petacchi’s strong ride positions him well to grab the leader’s jersey in the coming days, while Savoldelli’s finish must have a bitter taste for the Italian, who lost the prologue at Tour de Romandie a week ago by less than a half-second.
The 88th Giro kicks into gear Sunday with the 208km stage from Reggio Calabria to Tropea as the race begins its long march out of the “toe” and northwards. With time bonuses in play and the field separated by just a few seconds, dozens of riders will be attacking with gusto to grab the bonuses and the maglia rosa.
Race note
Lancaster, whose nickname is “Big Bird,” shared the podium with another monikered maestro on Saturday. The recently retired Mario Cipollini rode last in the Giro prologue, taking a parade lap of sorts after 17 seasons as a pro. Super Mario collected a record 42 stages in the Giro, and 189 victories in total, but at age 38 decided last week to say ciao to his ever-loyal tifosi.
Today's Live Coverage
1. Brett Lancaster (Aus), Ceramica Panaria - Navigare, 1.15km in 1:20 (51.75kph)
2. Matteo Tosatto (I), Fassa Bortolo, 1:21
3. Alessandro Petacchi (I), Fassa Bortolo, 1:21
4. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Discovery Channel, 1:21
5. Olaf Pollack (G), T-Mobile, 1:22
6. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), Cofidis, 1:22
7. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est), Credit Agricole, 1:22
8. Mark Renshaw (Aus), Francaise des Jeux, 1:22
9. Sergio Escobar Roure (Sp), Illes Balears, 1:22
10. Sven Krauss (G), Gerolsteiner, 1:22
