Dominik Nerz is a future Grand Tour-winner. He is 23, so he is still learning. In this Tour he will be a big helper for Vincenzo Nibali, and maybe there is a chance for winning the white jersey?

Daniele Ratto is a puncheur. He is also 23 like Dominik, but Daniele is more explosive and will be a great helper for Peter Sagan.

Eros Capecchi is a climber. He is also one of the best descenders in the world. He will help Vincenzo Nibali, but he will also attack and hope for winning the polka-dot jersey.

Sylvester Szmyd is also a climber. He is actually a super-domestique, because sometimes his ability to climb is fantastic. His stage win on Mont Ventoux in Critérium du Dauphiné in 2009 is a proof. He will help Vincenzo, but he can also go for his own.

Daniel Oss is a sprinter, but he is also good on cobblestones. However in this year's Tour there are no cobblestones, so he will be important for Peter Sagan. He is also very good on the flat, so he can help the captains, if they are behind.

Elia Viviani is also a sprinter. He had improved that he also can can ride great on the flat. He will be Peter Sagan's lead-out man.

Ivan Basso doesn't need any introduction; 2 Grand Tour wins, 2nd in Tour de France back in 2005, and winning the mountains classification last year in Tour. This year he will be a super-domestique for Vincenzo. But if something happens, he will be ready for riding for himself.

Peter Sagan is considered to be one of cycling's most promising young talents, having earned many prestigious victories in his early twenties - 5 stages in Tour de France as an example. He is only 22 years old, but he has already 38 wins now, where he begins his third pro season. He is a sprinter/puncheur and he is also the second captain, so he will win some stages in this Tour.

Vincenzo Nibali is 28 years old, but he has already two Grand Tours like Ivan: Vuelta 2010 and Tour 2011. He is the captain and he knows it! He will try to take the yellow jersey and hold it until Paris.

Well, it is a prolouge. I hope that I can do the same as I did in Tour de Suisse.

First time check: 3:55 (+20" - Tony Martin)



Finish line:



But because there are many others who haven't started yet, I ended 168th.





















It was not my best prolouge, but it doesn't matter. Vincenzo got a great prolouge time, but unfortunately Cadel Evans and Bradley Wiggins was faster, but it makes more pressure on them, and lesser on us! I am more thinking about tomorrow. A hill in the last few kilometers will be great for me. And guess what; tomorrow is the best chance! So bye now and hopefully I win tomorrow!

Peto

The Tour remained in Belgium for the first full day's racing with a stage through the rolling countryside of the Ardennes. After four Category 4 climbs en route, the race finished at Seraing, a municipality just outside Liège. The finish was at the top of a long and fairly steep drag – the Côte de Seraing – rising for 2.4 km (1.5 mi) at an average of 4.7%, which was expected to suit the race's puncheurs such as Liquigas-Cannondale rider Peter Sagan or BMC Racing Team rider Philippe Gilbert, who won a similar finish in the opening stage of the 2011 Tour at Mont des Alouettes.









The beginning of the stage was very simple; few attacks. After the breakaway was formed, I said to my team, that they should relay. I was the biggest favorite of this stage, so the break must not win!



There was of course an intermediate sprint. Because of the break, I could only sprint for a 7th place.



With 14 km remaining the gap was 1 minute. But they was never caught! When the hill began with 1.5 km left, I attacked. I overtook the breakaway, but there was one rider ahead; Sebastian Langeveld.



I caught him and waited: If I attacked he will follow. He started to sprint with 500 m and I responded.



I looked back, he gave up! A stage win to me!!























What a day! I knew that I was favorite, but I didn't know that I was so strong! Even Oscar Freire didn't catch me (he counter-attacked me). And I have almost the green jersey! What a day!

- Peto