David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) heads out to test different tyre pressures(Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
The Team Sky mechanics work on the bikes in the start area(Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
The Saxo Bank Specialized bikes await their riders(Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
Some of the Specialized bikes are black S-Works models(Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
Two Specialized bikes together(Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
The Cervelo TestTeam is all set for the time trial (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
Daniel Lloyd's road race bike (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
The HTC-Columbia team staff get ready for a long day(Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
The HTC-Columbia time trial bikes(Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
Stefano Garzelli was wrapped up as he studied the course(Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
Bradley Wiggins' special Pinarello bike(Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
The Team Sky mechanic changes the front wheel on Wiggins' bike(Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
THE BMC bikes (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
Cameron Meyer's Felt TT bike has special Australia colours(Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
The Garmin-Transitions-Felt bikes are ready(Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
The two million local cyclists are forced offf the race route (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
The opening time trial stage of the Giro d'Italia began under grey skies and light rain on Saturday, making the technical 8.4 kilometre city centre course in Amsterdam a test of bike handling ability and nerve.
The riders best at getting up to speed after the many corners will gain seconds each time, while those with the nerve to dive into the wet and off-camber corners are also set to reap important chunks of time.
Andriy Grivko (Astana) was the earlier leader with a time of 10:31, while Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago-CSF Inox) was the first rider to crash on the slick roads.
Before the start the team mechanics worked furiously on the rider's time trial bikes as they changed tyre pressure, changed wheel and finalized positions for the wet conditions and testing roads. The riders studied the course, wrapped in tights and warm jackets.
Most people at the start area believed the wet roads and testing circuit now makes David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) the favourite to win the time trial. He confirmed to Cyclingnews that he gunning for victory whatever the conditions. He is convinced he now has an edge over the likes of Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) and Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana), who may back off a little in the time trial to avoid putting their overall chances in the Giro at risk.
We will find out later this afternoon. All the leading favourites start in the final hour of the time trial. Millar is off at 17:08 CET, Wiggins two minutes after at 17:10 and Vinokourov is off at 17:18. Andrei Greipel (HTC-Columbia) is last man to start at 17:34 CET.
The fastest man will pull on the first maglia rosa of the 2010 Giro d'Italia.
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