Petacchi ready for Giro start

On Friday, one day prior to the start of the 89th Giro d'Italia, Alessandro Petacchi and his Milram team have taken to the roads of Southern Belgium for a four hour-training ride in bright sunshine. They covered 130 kilometres, took on two climbs as well as the last 35 kilometres of stage two on Sunday, May 7, and the finish of the following day in Namur on Monday. The Italian sprinter now knows his plan for the coming days.

"Tomorrow, I'll do the prologue flat out," Petacchi said after his massage. "I'll be satisfied if I finish 30 seconds behind the winner. Then, on Sunday, there will be the first possibility of a sprint in this Giro. The route is hilly in the first part like always, but I think a bunch finish is possible."

No doubt that the Milram train will get into bigger gear for Petacchi if he feels good. However, stage three on Monday will not be a target. "Stage three will be very hard. In my opinion, we will see the classification guys in front, as well as some outsiders like Bettini. We will have to accelerate again after every curve, and the pavé sections won't help. But my condition is very good and I intend to use in every opportunity that will come up in this first part of the Giro."