Slipstream wins 1st Giro stage

The Associated Press
Published: May 10, 2008

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

Five riders with the U.S.-based team finished together, with Vandevelde a bike's length ahead at the end of the 14.7-mile course around Palermo. Slipstream 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.

The Astana team, which has two of the pre-race favorites in Alberto Contador and Andreas Kloden, finished 1 second behind LPR.

The Giro continues in Sicily on Sunday with a 129-mile leg from Cefalu to Agrigento.

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