Tom Dumoulin wins Giro d'Italia 2016 stage one time trial
Tom Dumoulin gives a crowd-pleasing performance as the 2016 Giro d'Italia kicked off in the Netherlands with a 9.8km time trial - Photos by Graham Watson
Dutchman Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) gave the home crowds a perfect start to the 2016 Giro d'Italia by winning the opening time trial in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.
Dumoulin took the victory by just a fraction of a second ahead of surprise top finisher Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo), making his Grand Tour debut. The pair both clocked just 11 minutes and three seconds to complete the pan-flat 9.8-kilometre course.
>>> Giro d'Italia 2016: Latest news, reports and info
Andrey Amador (Movistar) placed third at six seconds. Pre-stage favourite Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) placed eighth having suffered from a stomach illness mid-week.
The Swiss rider's dream of wearing the maglia rosa of race leader may now never be realised if his expected retirement at the end of 2016 materialises.
Dumoulin's Giant-Alpecin team-mate Tobias Ludvigsson put down the early marker. Rider after rider of the 198 starters came through and did not better the Swede, and in the end he finished a creditable fourth.
Dumoulin now goes into stage two in the overall race lead. The stage is the second of three in the Netherlands, running from Arnhem to Nijmegen. It is widely expected to end in a bunch sprint.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Speaking after the stage, Dumoulin also revealed that he has been suffering with a stomach illness: "I’m a very lucky man today. I realise how narrowly I’ve won by. It was a lot of suffering, especially at the end of the course. I’m actually feeling sick with a stomach bug but I’m also so, so happy," he said.
"The effort I made at the Tour de Romandie to prepare for this time trial has paid off. I didn’t do my best time trial today but also not my worst one. I would have liked to go a bit faster but only the result counts and winning here in the Netherlands is so special."
Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) was the best of the other general classification favourites, placing 16th at 19 seconds. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was 23rd at 24 seconds, Rigoberto Uran (Etixx-QuickStep) 43rd at 33 seconds and Mikel Landa (Sky) 67th at 40 seconds.
Dumoulin's victory is a significant one for Giant-Alpecin, as it's the squad first WorldTour win of the season after the team suffered in the wake of a car hitting a number of its riders during a training ride in Spain in January.
Giro d'Italia 2016 result
Stage one: Apeldoorn to Apeldoorn (Netherlands), 9.8km
1. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin in 11-03
2. Primoz Roglic (Slo) LottoNL-Jumbo at same time
3. Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar at 6 secs
4. Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Giant-Alpecin at 8 secs
5. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Etixx-QuickStep at 11 secs
6. Moreno Moser (Ita) Cannondale at 12 secs
7. Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx-QuickStep at 13 secs
8. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek-Segafredo at 14 secs
9. Matthias Brändle (Aut) IAM Cycling at same time
10. Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing at 16 secs
General classification after stage one
1. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin in 11-03
2. Primoz Roglic (Slo) LottoNL-Jumbo at same time
3. Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar at 6 secs
4. Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Giant-Alpecin at 8 secs
5. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Etixx-QuickStep at 11 secs
6. Moreno Moser (Ita) Cannondale at 12 secs
7. Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx-QuickStep at 13 secs
8. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek-Segafredo at 14 secs
9. Matthias Brändle (Aut) IAM Cycling at same time
10. Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing at 16 secs
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
-
'She should show a bit more respect' - Lotte Kopecky responds to Demi Vollering comments
The pair seemingly had one last fractious year together at SD Worx-Protime in 2024
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'Our costs are going up but customers can’t pay more': Community bike shops are making cycling affordable, but can they afford to keep the doors open?
Not-for-profit setups designed to make cycling accessible are feeling the pinch - but the communities they're designed to serve can keep them alive
By Isobel Duxfield Published
-
'It's not worth risking his long term health': DSM-Firmenich withdraw concussed Romain Bardet from Tour de France
DSM-Firmenich enact their concussion protocol to withdraw the Frenchman from the race
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
'This is insane': Alberto Dainese comes back from illness to triumph in photo finish on Giro d'Italia stage 17 sprint
DSM rider finished last on Sunday's stage with a stomach bug, but bounced back to take win in his home region
By Adam Becket Published
-
‘It’s been nice rubbing shoulders with the big boys’ - Great Britain’s Max Poole shines at Tour of the Alps
20-year-old won the best young rider classification at five day stage race in Austria and north east Italy
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Jumbo-Visma set to use adjustable tyre pressure systems at Paris-Roubaix
The Dutch team and DSM will both utilise different systems on the cobblestones of the ‘Hell of the North’
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Pfeiffer Georgi relishes new leadership role at Team DSM
'I feel like I’m able to be more in the race,' says the in-form Brit
By Tom Davidson Published
-
‘It was perfect being boxed in’ - Charlotte Kool doubles up on final day of UAE Tour
The Dutchwoman proved the fastest, while Elisa Longo Borghini toasts overall victory with ice cream
By Tom Davidson Published
-
‘I’m excited to be in the game myself again’ - Charlotte Kool stuns world's best at UAE Tour
The Team DSM rider sprinted into the spotlight with victory on stage one
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Meet Sean Flynn, the Edinburgh-born mountain biker moving to the WorldTour with DSM
The 22-year-old has stepped up to elite level after two years with development teams, and is looking to push on
By Adam Becket Published