direct adversaries in the mountain stages, is a positive result," Cervelo TestTeam's Carlos Sastre commented after the finish. Sastre added "After so much time without many competitions to gauge my fitness level and with only the training series that I've done to guide me, I needed to know how I would do against my rivals."

The race, which has often started or passed through other countries than Italy and could begin in the United States in 2012 under ambitious plans, stays in the cycling-mad Netherlands for two more days before returning home.

Sunday's 210-km second stage is between Amsterdam and Utrecht while Monday's third stage finishes in Middelburg. The race ends in Verona on May 30.

Stay tuned to us here at Roadcycling.com for full 2010 Giro d'Italia coverage including video highlights from the race and visit www.universalsports.com/cycling for live video from the Giro.

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