Gerdemann begins with a bang

Gerdemann: Claimed leader's jersey

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Linus Gerdemann claimed the leader's blue jersey by sprinting to victory on a rain-soaked first stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico.

The Milram rider had been part of a late four-man breakaway in Rosignano Solvay and attacked from the back of that quartet on the closing straight to pip Caisse d'Epargne's Pablo Lastras by a hair's breadth at the line.

Saxo Bank's Matti Breschel took third place on a day where the big-name sprinters were conspicuous by their absence.

The stage took place in appalling conditions with wind and rain battering the riders right throughout the day.

Dmytro Grabovskyy (ISD) was the first rider to break free of the peloton and had enjoyed a lead of over five minutes before eventually being reeled back in by Team Sky at around 7km to go.

Further attacks came thick and fast and Luca Paolini (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo), Breschel, Gerdemann and Pablo Lastras eventually made theirs stick 2km further down the road.

The quartet appeared to have been caught on the final corner but confusion reigned in the chase pack as Paolini broke for the line.

Breschel quickly took the Italian's wheel but the duo ran out of steam in the closing metres, allowing Gerdemann to take full advantage.

Stage one result/Overall standings:

1 - Linus Gerdemann - (GER) - Milram - ( 3:36:03)
2 - Pablo Lastras - (ESP) - Caisse d'Epargne - (+6)
3 - Matti Breschel - (DEN) - Saxo Bank - (+8)
4 - Luca Paolini - (ITA) - Acqua & Sapone - (+12)
5 - Yauheni Hutarovich - (BLR) - Française des Jeux - (+12)
6 - José Joaquín Rojas - (ESP) - Caisse d'Epargne - (+12)
7 - Tyler Farrar - (USA) - Garmin - (+12)
8 - Marco Bandiera - (ITA) - Katyusha - (+12)