The Tirreno - Adriatico 2014 kicks off with a 5,3km prologue in Taranto.
But the list of favourites for todays stage is short as not a lot prologue specialists are at the start.
Sure the one to mention is Cancellara. The Swiss is one of the Worlds top time trialist and is not having his biggest opponents here.
Next strong time trialists are already 2nd tier chrono men such as Malori, Boom or Cancellara`s team mate Viviani.
So it might be a prologue made for Simply Red Bull and everything but a win would be a huge fail.
For the race top favourites there aren`t the strongest time trialists. So gaps between GC riders shouldn`t be too big after the stage.
Vandborg is todays first starter and in that field already a decent top10 chance for him. Obviously he sets a first best time here and the next riders will have to beat this first.
Also an early starter is Van der Hugenhaben. The Bpost GC rider is sent on the road first surprisingly. 7s behind Vandborg this wasn`t a too bad start.
With Viviani one of the expected top time trialists also an early starter. And the Italian is not disappointing his manager and takes the lead. 3s faster only though might mean a weak time on his side or a very good by Vandborg.
Malori next. Statwise he should be the strongest behind Cancellara. And he justifies that by going 7s faster than his country man Viviani. So two Italians in front ahead of Vandborg.
Also mentionable times by Samoilev (+15s) and J.Sagan (+11s), who both went ahead of Van der Hugenhaben.
Rijntjes with a very strong time. The Dutch is coming in 3rd only 1s behind Viviani.
Boom next. He seems to have a good day here as he beats the bit stronger expected Malori by 2s and takes the lead this way.
After Kluge with a good time as 7th, it`s Goddaert next. The Belgium with outside chances to surprise for a podium result today.
In the end it`s not enough as he takes 5th so far behind Rijntjes.
Vanendert as first of the last starters, which mainly means the GC riders.
As 13th (+17) a decent ride.
Sagan was a big transfer this off-season. He adds the Becherovka team the needed hill strength. But he might need some more training until he can become a very good rider.
22s behind Boom for him.
Guldhammer is more a climber than a puncheur. Still he could do well here in the Tirreno Adriatico as his puncheur qualities aren`t too bad neither. The improved B&O leader comes in with the same time as Vanendert. (+17)
Ginanni as one of the division`s top puncheur. He surely wants to do very well here in his home race even though the prologue is not his strength. 29s to Boom in the end losing a little bit on other GC riders, which was expected.
Valverde had a good start into the season. The ageing Spaniard with a famous time today as he comes in the same as Vanendert and Guldhammer earlier. (+17).
His teammate Sinkewitz as earlier starter wasn`t doing very well coming in 23s behind Boom. That said it`s only 6s for him, which shows the small gaps today.
Van Garderen as Wikipedia leader has high expectations here. Losing 4s on Valverde etc. looks like a decent prologue for him. His strength will come in the hills.
Gilbert leads the Pendleton`s team.
Coming in 14s behind the best time gives him a small advantage over other puncheurs.
One of many Italian GC riders here. Ponzi is one of the biggest favourites due to his chance to go for bonus seconds in some stages. Same time as Sagan, 1s behind Van Garderen.
Schleck is one of the best riders in the history of the Man Game Tirreno Adriatico and is back to make it 3 GC wins. The course should suit him and chances could be worse. 21s behind Boom, same time as Van Garderen and only a bit behind other GC riders.
And another Italian with Pozzato. Not the best puncheur in this field but a very well all around rider, who can fight also in the sprints for important bonus seconds. 2s behind the Valverde TT Group and ahead of Van Garderen/Schleck.
Bakelants vs Schleck was a regular duel in the last few seasons. But this season there are stronger opponents and it might be much harder for him. Still one of the very best puncheurs with a good strength of longer climbs as well as also a nice sprint. So no question one of the top favourites. But first he needs to gain time back as time trialing doesn`t belong to his strength. 28s from the best time.
Boasson Hagen is one of those improved puncheurs, that are expected to be very strong in hilly races. His season start in China was very unlucky and he surely hopes to improve here to get the season finally started for Aker - MOT. The team really needs some improvement for sure. Same time as Gilbert and so the best of the GC riders so far.
Ricco going for GC`s in Festina colours this season and is a very nice rider for races like this. His biggest advantage over the pure puncheurs surely is his great climbing. 19s behind here though puts him a bit behind some other GC riders.
Cancellara on the road. Todays top favourite one of the last starters. GC wise he probably won`t be able to hang on in the next stages. But today he was the man to beat for all others. But nobody actually was able to.
The Swiss passes the line with a great time. 13s ahead of Boom. This is the lead for him and most probably the yellow jersey. Well done.
Cunego as last starter. Not as strong on the hills as some others, but the strongest on the longer climbs. In combination surely one top favourite to win the race. As defending champion this surely is his goal.
29s behind Spartacus and so the 3rd best GC rider today! Good start.
I unfortunately have missed two riders in my report.
First is Kip, who showed a very nice prologue here for ING resulting in a 4th of the stage ahead of Viviani! The other one is the wildcard`s team leader Ben Nasser. +41s for him. So one of the weaker GC riders but ahead of Ginnani, Levarlet, Sinkewitz or Roux.
