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Giro d'Italia 2017: Stage 1

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Welcome to our live coverage of the 2017 Giro d'Italia. The gruppo has gathered in Alghero for the start of stage 1, with the riders due to be flagged away at 12.10 local time. They navigate an 8.4km neutralised zone before hitting kilometre zero at around 12.25. 206 kilometres - and the short, sharp climb of San Pantaleo - then separate them from the first maglia rosa of the race in Olbia.

There is, as one might anticipate, quite a lot of media interest outside the Bardiani-CSF bus before the start, where manager Bruno Reverberi has been trying to explain how two of his riders - Stefano Pirazzi and Nicola Ruffoni - tested positive for growth hormone releasing peptides in out-of-competition controls in late April

UEC president David Lappartient has been at the start in Alghero this morning. The Frenchman is, of course, mulling over a bid for the UCI presidency this September. What would Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn give for a photo opportunity like this one?

Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step) is a decent bet for the first maglia rosa of this Giro, but when he spoke to the press on Thursday, he emphasised his desire to make it all the way to the finish in Milan. "I'm pretty nervous, it's a new race, and that's a challenge for me," Gaviria said.

There was a minute of silence in memory of the late Michele Scarponi at the start in Alghero. The eight Astana riders in the race stood at the head of the peloton as the Giro paid tribute to Scarponi. The Astana team then led the gruppo on its way out of Alghero.

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One of their number, Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), has acknowledges that Nairo Quintana (Movistar) as the outstanding favourite, but notes a degree of parity elsewhere. "Everyone says Quintana is the favourite," Pinot said. "Behind him, we’re about ten riders pretty much at the same level." The Frenchman is making his Giro debut, but he has plenty of experience on Italian roads, dating back to his overall victory in the Giro della Valle d'Aosta as an amateur in 2009.

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Vincenzo Nibali is tucked safely in the main peloton alongside Nairo Quintana. Each man is surrounded by a phalanx of his teammates. They will be happy to come away from Sardinia with no alarms and no surprises ahead of stage 4's summit finish at Mount Etna.

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It can hardly have escaped your attention that this is the 100th edition of the Giro d'Italia. Our gallery of 100 images from the race's history is available to browse here.

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Despite the stiff climb of San Pantaleo in the finale, Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) is confident that today's stage will end in a bunch sprint with the maglia rosa on the line. "I had a month away from racing but I raced again at the Tour of Yorkshire and I felt good there. I think I’m ready for the Giro d’Italia," Ewan said at the start. "I think the late climb will make things tough but I’m sure it’ll end in a sprint. There are a lot of guys who want the first pink jersey, so it’s going to be a hectic finale."

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