MARINA DI CARRARA, Italy (AP) — Rabobank won a team time trial Wednesday to open the weeklong Tirreno-Adriatico cycling race.
Dutch rider Lars Boom took the leader’s blue jersey, as Rabobank clocked 18 minutes, 8 seconds along the 10.4-mile route in Marina di Carrara on the Tuscan coast.
Garmin-Cervelo, led by world champion Thor Hushovd of Norway, finished 9 seconds behind and HTC-Highroad, led by British sprinter Mark Cavendish, was third, 10 seconds back.
Many riders use this race as a warmup for the season’s opening single-day classic, the Milan-San Remo on March 19. Other entrants include Swiss time trial specialist Fabian Cancellara, Belgian standout Philippe Gilbert and Italian rider Ivan Basso.
