Phinney wins opening stage of Giro

American Taylor Phinney won the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia in Denmark today, edging out Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas over an 8.7 kilometres time-trial course.

BMC Racing rider Phinney, like Thomas a graduate of track cycling, finished in 10 minutes 26 seconds with the Welshman 9secs down over the the course around the streets of Herning in central Jutland.

The 21-year-old American, former Under-23 world time-trial champion, had targeted the opening stage of the 2012 Giro, having described today as a chance to “potentially change my life”.

Phinney will be in pink tomorrow with the Giro remaining in Denmark for a 206km tour through Jutland which takes in long stretches of the road on the west coast when cross-winds are likely to be a factor.