Henderson Fifth in Opening Stage of Giro

New Zealand cyclist Greg Henderson has made a strong start to the Giro d’Italia finishing fifth in the opening time trial stage today.

Henderson was only five seconds behind his Sky Cycling teammate Bradley Wiggins as the British rider raced into the tour leader’s jersey, with the opening 8.4km stage run in damp conditions in Amsterdam.

The other New Zealander in the field is Julian Dean (Garmin) who was 53 seconds down on the winner.

The 93rd Giro d'Italia started in Amsterdam's Museumplein, flanked by the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, run in occasional rain.

Tomorrow’s second stage remains in the Netherlands with a 209km most flat but sometimes twisting stage from Amsterdam to Utrecht.

Stage 1 results:
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) 10:18, 1; Brent Bookwalter (BMC) at 2 seconds, 2; Cadel Evans (BMC) same time 3; Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) at 5 secs, 4; Henderson (Sky) same time, 5. Also: Julian Dean (Garmin) at 53 secs.