Rabobank dominant in Tirreno-Adriatico team time trial

The Rabobank team continued their impressive run of results by dominating the opening team time trial at Tirreno-Adriatico, securing the first leader’s jersey for Lars Boom and opening a useful time gap on all the other overall contenders for team leader Robert Gesink.

Rabobank was the first team to start the flat, out and back course and set a time of eighteen minutes and eight seconds. They covered the 16.8km course at an average of over 55km/h.

Garmin-Cervelo started hesitantly but finished strong to take second place at nine seconds, HTC-Highroad was third at ten seconds and Saxo Bank-SunGard was fourth with a time of 18:19.

The Rabobank team included strong time trialists Sebastian Langeveld, Tom Leezer, Bram Tankink and Maarten Wynants. Boom won the prologue at the Tour of Oman and this team time trial victory is Rabobank’s twelfth victory of the 2011 season. Boom was first to cross the line for Rabobank and so pulled on the first sky blue race leader’s jersey.

Overall contenders lose precious seconds

RCS Sport, the organisers of Tirreno-Adriatico, caused a surprise by introducing an opening team time trial and a final individual time trial to this year’s Tirreno-Adriatico route. It reduced the number of stages suited to the sprinters to just two but makes the race more suited to stage race riders.

Most of the big-name sprinters have still opted for Tirreno-Adriatico for their final build-up to Milan-San Remo but the race will also see Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale), Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD), Marco Pinotti (HTC-Highroad), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky), Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) and Robert Gesink (Rabobank) fight for overall success.

Rabobank’s victory has already boosted Gesink’s overall chances and damaged those of several key rivals.

Liquigas-Cannondale finished a solid fifth in the team, but that meant Basso lost 22 precious to Gesink. BMC was sixth, leaving Cadel Evans 26 seconds behind, while Leopard Trek was seventh at 29 seconds. World time trial champion Fabian Cancellara did long turns on the front but his Luxembourg team finished off the pace with a time of 18:37.

Michele Scarponi’s Lampre-ISD team lost 37 seconds, while 2010 Tirreno-Adriatico winner Stefano Garzelli lost 47 seconds after Acqua & Sapone was only twelfth. Giovanni Visconti chances also now looked slim after Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli were seventeenth, losing 55 seconds.

Some riders also took a physical battering. Omega Pharma-Lotto set a time of 18:49 to finish 11th but sprinter Andre Greipel was unable to make a full contribution to his team’s effort after crashing while warming up for the team time trial. He started the time trial with the left side of his face covered in bandages.

Time bonuses will now become a key factor in the battle for overall victory. Ten, six and four seconds are awarded at the end of road stages and time bonuses of three, two and one second are awarded at intermediate sprints.

Thursday’s second stage of Tirreno-Adriatico is over 202km from Carrara to Arezzo in the heart of Tuscany. It is expected to finish with a bunch sprint with local resident Daniele Bennati (Leopard Trek) surely hoping to final land his first win of the season. 

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Results
1Rabobank Cycling Team0:18:08
2Team Garmin-Cervelo0:00:09
3HTC-Highroad0:00:10
4Saxo Bank Sungard0:00:11
5Liquigas-Cannondale0:00:22
6BMC Racing Team0:00:26
7Leopard Trek0:00:29
8Team RadioShack0:00:30
9Sky Procycling0:00:33
10Lampre - ISD0:00:37
11Omega Pharma-Lotto0:00:41
12Acqua & Sapone0:00:47
13Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team0:00:51
14Pro Team AstanaRow 13 - Cell 2
15Movistar TeamRow 14 - Cell 2
16Katusha Team0:00:53
17Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli0:00:55
18AG2R La Mondiale0:00:57
19Quickstep Cycling Team0:01:08
20Euskaltel-Euskadi0:01:13
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General classification after stage 1
1Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:18:08
2Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Thomas Leezer (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo0:00:09
8David Zabriskie (USA) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 7 - Cell 2
9Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 8 - Cell 2
10Roger Hammond (GBr) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 9 - Cell 2
11Andreas Klier (Ger) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 10 - Cell 2
12Rick Flens (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:00:10
13Marco Pinotti (Ita) HTC-HighroadRow 12 - Cell 2
14Bert Grabsch (Ger) HTC-HighroadRow 13 - Cell 2
15Michael Albasini (Swi) HTC-HighroadRow 14 - Cell 2
16Peter Velits (Svk) HTC-HighroadRow 15 - Cell 2
17Hayden Roulston (NZl) HTC-HighroadRow 16 - Cell 2
18Mark Renshaw (Aus) HTC-HighroadRow 17 - Cell 2
19Nick Nuyens (Bel) Saxo Bank Sungard0:00:11
20Baden Cooke (Aus) Saxo Bank SungardRow 19 - Cell 2
21Juan José Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank SungardRow 20 - Cell 2
22Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Saxo Bank SungardRow 21 - Cell 2
23Michael Morkov (Den) Saxo Bank SungardRow 22 - Cell 2
24Gustav Larsson (Swe) Saxo Bank SungardRow 23 - Cell 2
25Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 24 - Cell 2
26Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad0:00:17
27David Tanner (Aus) Saxo Bank Sungard0:00:20
28Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale0:00:22
29Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 28 - Cell 2
30Damiano Caruso (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 29 - Cell 2
31Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 30 - Cell 2
32Tiziano Dall'Antonia (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 31 - Cell 2
33Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 32 - Cell 2
34Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 33 - Cell 2
35Alan Marangoni (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 34 - Cell 2
36Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Saxo Bank Sungard0:00:24
37Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team0:00:26
38Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 39 - Cell 2
41Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 40 - Cell 2
42Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 43 - Cell 2
45Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Leopard Trek0:00:28
46Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard TrekRow 45 - Cell 2
47Daniele Bennati (Ita) Leopard TrekRow 46 - Cell 2
48Stuart O'grady (Aus) Leopard TrekRow 47 - Cell 2
49Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Leopard TrekRow 48 - Cell 2
50Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team RadioShack0:00:30
51Tiago Machado (Por) Team RadioShackRow 50 - Cell 2
52Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Team RadioShackRow 51 - Cell 2
53Ben Hermans (Bel) Team RadioShackRow 52 - Cell 2
54Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Team RadioShackRow 53 - Cell 2
55Stephen Cummings (GBr) Sky Procycling0:00:33
56Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Sky ProcyclingRow 55 - Cell 2
57Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 56 - Cell 2
58Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky ProcyclingRow 57 - Cell 2
59Mathew Hayman (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 58 - Cell 2
60Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky ProcyclingRow 59 - Cell 2
61Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Sky ProcyclingRow 60 - Cell 2
62Matthew Wilson (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervelo0:00:36
63Brett Lancaster (Aus) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 62 - Cell 2
64Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD0:00:37
65Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 64 - Cell 2
66Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 65 - Cell 2
67Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre - ISDRow 66 - Cell 2
68Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 67 - Cell 2
69Adriano Malori (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 68 - Cell 2
70Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - ISDRow 69 - Cell 2
71Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:00:41
72Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 71 - Cell 2
73Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 72 - Cell 2
74Vicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 73 - Cell 2
75Frederik Willems (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 74 - Cell 2
76Christopher Sutton (Aus) Sky Procycling0:00:44
77Adam Hansen (Aus) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:00:46
78Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone0:00:47
79Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro) Acqua & SaponeRow 78 - Cell 2
80Massimo Codol (Ita) Acqua & SaponeRow 79 - Cell 2
81Alessandro Proni (Ita) Acqua & SaponeRow 80 - Cell 2
82Fabio Taborre (Ita) Acqua & SaponeRow 81 - Cell 2
83Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Team RadioShack0:00:49
84Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Team RadioShackRow 83 - Cell 2
85Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team0:00:51
86Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 85 - Cell 2
87Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
88Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 87 - Cell 2
89Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 88 - Cell 2
90Wouter Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 89 - Cell 2
91Jens Mouris (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 90 - Cell 2
92Simon Clarke (Aus) Pro Team AstanaRow 91 - Cell 2
93Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Pro Team AstanaRow 92 - Cell 2
94Allan Davis (Aus) Pro Team AstanaRow 93 - Cell 2
95Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Pro Team AstanaRow 94 - Cell 2
96Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 95 - Cell 2
97Roman Kireyev (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 96 - Cell 2
98Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 97 - Cell 2
99Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Movistar TeamRow 98 - Cell 2
100Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Movistar TeamRow 99 - Cell 2
101Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 100 - Cell 2
102Branislau Samoilau (Blr) Movistar TeamRow 101 - Cell 2
103Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Movistar TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
104Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 103 - Cell 2
105Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar TeamRow 104 - Cell 2
106David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 105 - Cell 2
107Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Katusha Team0:00:52
108Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
109Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 108 - Cell 2
110Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 109 - Cell 2
111Aliaksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Katusha TeamRow 110 - Cell 2
112Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
113Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha TeamRow 112 - Cell 2
114Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli0:00:54
115Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Farnese Vini - Neri SottoliRow 114 - Cell 2
116Diego Caccia (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri SottoliRow 115 - Cell 2
117Francesco Failli (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri SottoliRow 116 - Cell 2
118Andrea Noe (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri SottoliRow 117 - Cell 2
119Davide Ricci Bitti (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri SottoliRow 118 - Cell 2
120Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Pro Team Astana0:00:57
121Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La MondialeRow 120 - Cell 2
122Yuriy Krivtsov (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 121 - Cell 2
123Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 122 - Cell 2
124Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 123 - Cell 2
125David Lelay (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 124 - Cell 2
126Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 125 - Cell 2
127Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 126 - Cell 2
128Bernhard Eisel (Aut) HTC-Highroad0:00:59
129Niki Terpstra (Ned) Quickstep Cycling Team0:01:08
130Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 129 - Cell 2
131Davide Malacarne (Ita) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 130 - Cell 2
132Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 131 - Cell 2
133Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 132 - Cell 2
134Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 133 - Cell 2
135Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi0:01:13
136Juan Jose Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 135 - Cell 2
137Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 136 - Cell 2
138Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 137 - Cell 2
139Jon Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 138 - Cell 2
140Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team0:01:27
141Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team0:01:41
142Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Leopard Trek0:01:47
143Leonardo Giordani (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli0:01:50
144Oscar Gatto (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri SottoliRow 143 - Cell 2
145André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:02:00
146Joost Posthuma (Ned) Leopard Trek0:02:03
147Marco Bandiera (Ita) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 146 - Cell 2
148Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:02:11
149Daniel Sesma (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi0:02:17
150Davide Vigano (Ita) Leopard Trek0:02:35
151Maarten Wynants (Bel) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 150 - Cell 2
152Paolo Ciavatta (Ita) Acqua & Sapone0:02:53
153Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Acqua & SaponeRow 152 - Cell 2
154Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:03:08
155Grégory Rast (Swi) Team RadioShack0:03:15
156Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:03:24
157Alessandro Donati (Ita) Acqua & Sapone0:03:25
158Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha Team0:03:31
159Javier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi0:03:41
160Ivan Velasco Murillo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi0:04:39

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Stephen Farrand
Head of News

Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.

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