Tom Dumoulin wins Giro d'Italia 2016 stage one time trial

Tom Dumoulin gives a crowd-pleasing performance as the 2016 Giro d'Italia kicked off in the Netherlands with a 9.8km time trial - Photos by Graham Watson

Tom Dumoulin on stage one of the 2016 Giro d'Italia

(Image credit: Watson)

Dutchman Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) gave the home crowds a perfect start to the 2016 Giro d'Italia by winning the opening time trial in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.

Dumoulin took the victory by just a fraction of a second ahead of surprise top finisher Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo), making his Grand Tour debut. The pair both clocked just 11 minutes and three seconds to complete the pan-flat 9.8-kilometre course.

>>> Giro d'Italia 2016: Latest news, reports and info

Andrey Amador (Movistar) placed third at six seconds. Pre-stage favourite Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) placed eighth having suffered from a stomach illness mid-week.

The Swiss rider's dream of wearing the maglia rosa of race leader may now never be realised if his expected retirement at the end of 2016 materialises.

Fabian Cancellara on stage one of the 2016 Giro d'Italia

No opening stage win for Fabian Cancellara, and no pink jersey
(Image credit: Graham Watson)

Dumoulin's Giant-Alpecin team-mate Tobias Ludvigsson put down the early marker. Rider after rider of the 198 starters came through and did not better the Swede, and in the end he finished a creditable fourth.

Dumoulin now goes into stage two in the overall race lead. The stage is the second of three in the Netherlands, running from Arnhem to Nijmegen. It is widely expected to end in a bunch sprint.

Tom Dumoulin on stage one of the 2016 Giro d'Italia

Tom Dumoulin in the pink jersey of race leader
(Image credit: Watson)

Speaking after the stage, Dumoulin also revealed that he has been suffering with a stomach illness: "I’m a very lucky man today. I realise how narrowly I’ve won by. It was a lot of suffering, especially at the end of the course. I’m actually feeling sick with a stomach bug but I’m also so, so happy," he said.

"The effort I made at the Tour de Romandie to prepare for this time trial has paid off. I didn’t do my best time trial today but also not my worst one. I would have liked to go a bit faster but only the result counts and winning here in the Netherlands is so special."

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) was the best of the other general classification favourites, placing 16th at 19 seconds. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was 23rd at 24 seconds, Rigoberto Uran (Etixx-QuickStep) 43rd at 33 seconds and Mikel Landa (Sky) 67th at 40 seconds.

Mikel Landa on stage one of the 2016 Giro d'Italia

Mikel Landa lost significant seconds to his GC rivals
(Image credit: Watson)

Dumoulin's victory is a significant one for Giant-Alpecin, as it's the squad first WorldTour win of the season after the team suffered in the wake of a car hitting a number of its riders during a training ride in Spain in January.

Giro d'Italia 2016 result

Stage one: Apeldoorn to Apeldoorn (Netherlands), 9.8km

1. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin in 11-03

2. Primoz Roglic (Slo) LottoNL-Jumbo at same time

3. Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar at 6 secs

4. Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Giant-Alpecin at 8 secs

5. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Etixx-QuickStep at 11 secs

6. Moreno Moser (Ita) Cannondale at 12 secs

7. Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx-QuickStep at 13 secs

8. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek-Segafredo at 14 secs

9. Matthias Brändle (Aut) IAM Cycling at same time

10. Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing at 16 secs

General classification after stage one

1. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin in 11-03

2. Primoz Roglic (Slo) LottoNL-Jumbo at same time

3. Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar at 6 secs

4. Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Giant-Alpecin at 8 secs

5. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Etixx-QuickStep at 11 secs

6. Moreno Moser (Ita) Cannondale at 12 secs

7. Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx-QuickStep at 13 secs

8. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek-Segafredo at 14 secs

9. Matthias Brändle (Aut) IAM Cycling at same time

10. Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing at 16 secs

Primoz Roglic on stage one of the 2016 Giro d'Italia

Primoz Roglic
(Image credit: Watson)

Andrey Amador on stage one of the 2016 Giro d'Italia

Andrey Amador
(Image credit: Watson)

Alejandro Valverde on stage one of the 2016 Giro d'Italia

Alejandro Valverde
(Image credit: Watson)

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.