Lloyd content thus far

By Shane Stokes in Milazzo, Italy

Australian champion Matthew Lloyd (Silence-Lotto) is currently 47th in the general classification, one minute and 19 seconds off the time of maglia rosa of Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas). He showed his good climbing form when he placed 15th on Stage 2, crossing the line in a group 10 seconds behind the day's victor Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval - Scott).

"I felt good yesterday, no dramas," said Lloyd. "I have got to work into it, obviously. I was 10 seconds behind yesterday, so there is room for improvement. But it is not too far off the mark."

Lloyd rolled in 34th on Stage 3 and said that the day was relatively straightforward, even if he had a couple of scares. "It was not too bad," he said. "I watched a whole lot of people crash in front of me, and tried to avoid it! It is pretty crazy at times with the roads. Well, it's the road and the riders…the crashes are a combination of both."

With very few opportunities for sprinters this year, his team-mate Robbie McEwen was hoping to take the victory into Milazzo. However things didn't work out as planned, with McEwen being badly positioned just before the sprint opened up.

"At the finish Robbie obviously tried to sprint," said Lloyd. "I was just behind him and a group of guys came up on the left of the road and he got swamped. He was good up to that point. Obviously sprinting is sprinting, it is temperamental at times."