Giro di Sardegna

Stage 1:   Olbia to Porto Cervo, 138km/86mi

By Cathy Mehl

Slovakian talent Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) chalked up an early season win in stage one of the Giro di Sardegna on Tuesday.   In an uphill sprint to the line, the 21-year old Sagan out-gunned rivals Alessandro Ballan of BMC and teammate Daniel Oss and took the victory by several bike lengths.  Sagan will wear the race leader’s jersey for Stage 2 on Wednesday.

The break of the day was formed after 7km of racing by two riders who built a healthy advantage of almost eight minutes.  Arkimedes Arguelyes (Katusha) and Will Routley  of Team Spidertech cooperated with each other until the climb of San Pantaleo when the former went clear.  But motivation from the main field eventually brought the peloton back at under 10km to go. 

At 5km to go there was a 3km long climb, followed by a dangerous downhill on wet pavement.  The Shack’s Geoffroy Lequatre and Ben Hermans both made the front group to the line, but a flat tire for Bjorn Selander kept him from joining his teammates in the leading group. 

US Pro Ben King reported that the course was hillier than it looked on paper, but he’d enjoyed some time on the front with other young guns in the peloton.  Reports of incomplete information in the race Bible made yet another concern about the lack of radios as the riders faced unforeseen construction zones and flooded streets on the course.

Stage 2 on Wednesday is the longest in the race at 197.5km/123mi from Porto Rotondo to Nuoro/Monte Ortobene. 

Brief Results

1. Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale)

2. Alessandro Ballan (BMC)

3. Daniel Oss (Liquigas-Cannondale)

4. Daniele Pietropolli (Lampre Isd)

5. Osca Gatto (Farnese Vini)

6. Angel Vicioso (Androni Giocattoli)

7. Elia Favilli (Farnese Vini)