Vinokourov fastest at Lake Garda

Image 1 of 45

Astana's Alexandre Vinokourov stormed to victory in the opening individual time trial stage of the 2010 Giro del Trentino, held on the shores of Italy's Lake Garda on Tuesday.

The Kazakh completed the 12.5 kilometre course in 15 minutes and seven seconds, a full 16 seconds faster than second placed Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone). Matteo Montaguti (De Rosa-Stac Plastic) upstaged Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocattoli) to take third place, two second further back.

Riccardo Ricco (Ceramica Flaminia) finished eighth, 30 seconds behind the winner, while last year's overall champion Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Doimo) finished 13th. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre-Farnese Vini), who will retire after this year's Giro d'Italia, finished 1:07 down in 46th position.

Vinokourov's victory is his fourth race win since returning from a two-year doping ban in last year. He also assumed the first race leader's jersey at Trentino, his first general classification lead since the Tour de l'Ain in August, 2009.

Despite his possession of a 16-second advantage overall, Vinokourov said holding onto the race lead through the final three stages of the race not his immediate priority.

"On Sunday I'll be in Liège[-Bastogne-Liège] with strong ambitions, it's better to measure out my efforts. Here in Trentino I face a lot of competitors strongly wishing to get the overall," he said.