American Taylor Phinney won the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia in Denmark today, edging out Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas over an 8.7 kilometres time-trial course.
BMC Racing rider Phinney, like Thomas a graduate of track cycling, finished in 10 minutes 26 seconds with the Welshman 9secs down over the the course around the streets of Herning in central Jutland.
The 21-year-old American, former Under-23 world time-trial champion, had targeted the opening stage of the 2012 Giro, having described today as a chance to “potentially change my life”.
Phinney will be in pink tomorrow with the Giro remaining in Denmark for a 206km tour through Jutland which takes in long stretches of the road on the west coast when cross-winds are likely to be a factor.