The US-based Slipstream-Chipotle put Christian Vande Velde in the lead of the 2008 Giro d'Italia on Saturday by winning the opening team time trial.
It marks the first time in 20 years that an American has worn the leader's pink jersey at the Giro.
The Slipstream squad gained the lead after finishing the 14.6-mile course around Palermo on the island of Sicily in 26:32. Of the teams that followed, High Road and Team CSC each finished 6 seconds off the pace.
Slipstream members David Zabriskie (US) and David Millar (UK) set a torrid pace for the team, whose final time is recorded as the fifth man across the finish line. Zabriskie crossed the finish right behind Vande Velde, but Millar fell of the paceline at the end.
Millar told CyclingNews later that getting Vande Velde across the finish line in first was planned. However, Vande Velde told VeloNews that there was no plan to put him in first.
“We rode at 100 percent; it was a real team effort.”
Hampsten
The last US bicyclist to wear the pink jersey was Andy Hampsten in 1988. He secured the pink jersey by cycling into the snowstorm at the top of the Gavia that year, a feat that made him a hero in Italy.
Slipstream excels at the team time trial. They won the event at the Tour de Georgia last month.
On Saturday, they took the lead away from early leader Tinkoff by beating them by 30 seconds. Their posted time bested the teams that followed as well. Team CSC actually posted a better intermediate time, but couldn't hold that edge across the finish.
Vande Velde
This is a great victory for Vande Velde, 31, who has spent most of his professional career as a domestique on such teams at US Postal, Liberty Seguros and Team CSC. He's raced in a number of Tours de France, and helped Lance Armstrong twice win the championship.
The cyclist from Lemont, Illinois, has been advancing from his role as a domestique at some races in recent years. Last year, racing for Team CSC, he finished 2nd overall at the Tour de Georgia and this year he finished 3rd overall at the Tour of California.
The Giro remains on the island of Silicy on Sunday with a 128-mile stage from Cefalù – Agrigento.
Top 10 overall:
1. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Slipstream Chipotle
2. David Zabriskie (USA) Slipstream Chipotle
3. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Slipstream Chipotle
4. Julian Dean (NZl) Slipstream Chipotle
5. Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Slipstream Chipotle
6. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC, 6 seconds behind
7. Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC
8. Bradley McGee (Aus) Team CSC
9. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC
10. Jason McCartney (USA) Team CSC
Other Americans:
46. Levi Leipheimer, Astana – 29 seconds
171. Jonathan Patrick McCarty, Slipstream Chipotle – 2:02
172. Danny Pate, Slipstream Chipotle
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