It's time for the time trial! It's just 22 km long, though, and for the same reason it probably won't have that much an effect. However, it could easily result in a new leader. Favourites are Nibali, Reus and Hushovd with Ford, Niemiec, Savoldelli, Mazur and Gerdemann being outsiders. In general it's not the strongest time trial field, but it will be interesting.
And Ford - mentioned as one of the outsiders for the win - was actually also one of the first ones to set a good time with his 24'33. It was more than enough to push Clesen away from the 1st place spot. Later on, it was Pinotti, and then Mazur who overtook the leading. This situation was kept for a while.
In fact, we had to wait a very long while until a new top competitor came along: Niemiec of Erste who managed to overtake his team mate Di Maggio on the finish line while cutting 9 seconds off the best time. Next competitor would be Thor Hushovd, but despite being mentioned as one of the top favourites he only managed fourth.
Shortly after, Savoldelli came in, and he he been 2 seconds faster he would have had the best time. Instead, he had to accept a 2nd place - and then, Kai Raus came along. As with Hushovd, he was mentioned as a pre-stage favourite, but unlike Hushovd Reus lived up to this by not only taking the 1st place, but also by getting in 10 seconds faster than Niemiec.
But to everyone's surprise, Reus didn't keep his record for long. Instead, Vincenzo Nibali of Domina Vacanze came in at 24'01, 10 seconds faster than Reus! He's definitely looking to make up some of the time he has lost on the hills. I wonder how the race favourites will respond to this -- it's not like Bettini, Ricco and Di Luca are known for their great time trial skills
The first of the riders who are considered as one of the race favourites to come in was Ricco, who did a time of 24'46, being 45 seconds slower than Nibali. Caruso, on the other hand, did better by placing 9th, 32 seconds slower. It looked a lot worse for Rodriguez Oliver who lost 58 seconds (same for Bettini).
Di Luca and Sanchez Gil both did very well with Di Luca being the most impressive by taking 5th, 28 seconds behind Nibali. But can he take the jersey from Pellizotti who's coming in now?
Well, here he is.
