Slipstream wins 1st Giro stage; Christian Vandevelde takes leader's jersey

PALERMO, Sicily: The Slipstream-Chipotle team won the first stage of the Giro d'Italia on Saturday with Christian Vandevelde of the United States crossing the finish line first to take the leader's pink jersey.

Five riders with the U.S.-based Slipstream crossed the finish line together, with Vandevelde coming in a bike's length ahead of his teammates at the conclusion of the 23.6-kilometer (14.7-mile) team time trial around Palermo. Slipstream, which also won the team time trial at the Tour of Georgia last month, finished in 26 minutes, 32 seconds. Team CSC finished 6 seconds behind in second place, while High Road was third, 7 seconds back.

Vandevelde is the first American to take the leader's jersey at the Giro since Andy Hampsten won two stages in 1988 on his way to the overall victory.

LPR Brakes, the team of defending champion Danilo Di Luca, was 28 seconds off the lead in sixth place.

"We got the time we wanted to," said Di Luca. "We knew Slipstream was the team to beat and our goal was to come in at 27 minutes and we did that."

The Astana team, which has two of the pre-race favorites in Alberto Contador and Andreas Kloden, finished one second behind behind LPR.

The Giro continues in Sicily on Sunday with a 207-kilometer (129-mile) leg from Cefalu to Agrigento. The stage concludes with a 4-kilometer (2.5 mile) climb that is likely to cost Vandevelde the leader's jersey as Di Luca, Contador and the other strong climbers will seek to make up the time lost Saturday.

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