Giro d'Italia 2011: Stage 1 Preview

Venaria Reale – Turin

Celebrating 150 years of Italy

The Giro d'Italia starts its celebration of 150 years since Italian unification with a team time trial around its first capital city, Turin. The 19.3km test isn’t hard in terms of gradient, but there are tight turns where well-drilled squads can make their preparation and team work count. Starting at the Palace of Venaria, the course takes in many renowned landmarks and is similar in length to the TTT that opened 2009’s race in Venice. Back then, Columbia-Highroad’s victory put Mark Cavendish in the maglia rosa and his team will be contenders again, along with Sky, Liquigas, Garmin-Cervélo and Saxo Bank-SunGard.