Phinney wins Giro prologue
Young American takes short Herning, Denmark time trial, race's first pink jersey
BMC’s young American Taylor Phinney continues to prove that he’s a rising star in the world of pro cycling by winning today’s 8.7 kilometre time trial prologue, taking the Giro d’Italia’s first pink jersey. He’s the third American to ever wear pink.
The 21-year old Phinney, son of Davis Phinney, the U.S.A.’s first rider to win a stage of the Tour de France, destroyed the field at 10:26, nine seconds faster than runner-up Gerraint Thomas (Sky). Garmin-Barracuda’s great Dane time-trialist Alex Rasmussen came third, thirteen seconds in arrears.
Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) had a good ride for a GC contender, placing 17th at 10:55. Last year’s Giro winner Michele Scarponi (Lampre), the odds-on favourite, rode a dreadful prologue in pink, finishing 135th, 1:06 slower than Phinney.
Canadian Svein Tuft (Orica-GreenEdge) negotiated the course in 10:59 to take 23rd, his teammate Christian Meier was 75th at 11:17 and FDJ-BigMat’s Dominique Rollin’s time of 11:32 placed him at 137th.
Taylor Phinney was the 2010 Under-23 World Time Trial Champion and has won the track individual pursuit world championship twice.
The 95th Giro d’Italia will continue in Denmark for two more sprint-oriented days before a day off in order to move the whole production to Italy.
