Verbrugghe claims Giro pink jersey

Verbrugghe dons the winner's shirt in Pescara

Rik Verbrugghe will begin Sunday's first stage of the Giro d'Italia in the pink jersey after claiming the best time in Saturday's time trial prologue.

The 27-year-old Belgian completed the 7.6km (4.7 miles) course around Pescara in seven minutes and 44.7 seconds.

His time gave him a wind-assisted record average speed of 58.874kmph (36.501mph).

Italian Dario Frigo was nine seconds back in second place with Czech Rene Andrle in third.

Verbrugghe, a time trial specialist, who rides for the Lotto team, took advantage of an early start when the wind was in greatest favour of the cyclists.

He said: "It's a great, beautiful experience to wear the pink jersey. I'm not here to win the Giro, but I hope to hold leadership in the initial stages."

Off the pace

Verbrugghe's record average speed eclipsed the previous best by Britain's Chris Boardman which stood at 55kmph (34.10 mph) over 7.2 km (4.4 miles) in the prologue of the 1994 Tour de France.

Spain's Abraham Olano, the world against-the-clock champion, was 19 seconds slower than Verbrugghe with Olympic champion Jan Ulrich a further four seconds back.

Defending Giro champion Stefano Garzelli was 36 seconds off the pace having been the last of the starters, nearly two hours after Verbrugghe.

Marco Pantani, a 1998 Giro and Tour de France champion, could only manage to stay within 49 seconds of the winner.

The first stage of the Giro on Sunday is a 202km (125.2-mile) hilly course from Giulianova to Francavilla al Mare in the southern Abruzzo region.

Body fails to impress

Mario Cipollini had a difficult day on and off the track on Saturday.

Cipollini and his Saeco team were fined 800 Swiss Francs ($457.7) by Giro d'Italia judges for failing to wear team colours in the prologue trial.

Instead, the extrovert rider opted for a full-length skin suit decorated with muscles of the human body.

Cipollini: Dressed but did not impress

"I've wanted to wear a skin suit like that for a long time," joked Cipollini after his ride.

"Some people will be shocked, but I think it was a pleasant surprise for most people."

However, the colourful costume failed to improve the rider's performance in the race, finishing a dismal 48th and 32 seconds behind winner Verbrugghe.

Giro d'Italia: time test prologue results

1. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto seven mins 44 secs
2. Dario Frigo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo nine secs behind
3. Rene' Andrle (Cz Rep) Once 11 secs
4. Jan Hruska (Cz Rep) Once 13
5. Andrea Peron (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 13
6. Andrea Noe' (Ita) Mapei 14
7. Rouslan Ivanov (Mol) Alessio 16
8. Isidro Nozal (Spa) Once 18
9. Marco Velo (Ita) Mercatone Uno 18
10. Abraham Olano (Spa) Once 19
11. Sergej Honchar (Ukr) Liquigas 19
12. Jon Odrizola (Spa) Banesto.com 19
13. Noan Lelarge (Fra) Bonjour 20
14. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) Cantina Tollo 22
15. Alvaro Gonzales (Spa) Once 22
16. Simone Bertoletti (Ita) Lampre 22
17. Endrio Leoni (Ita) Alessio 22
18. Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre 22
19. Simone Borgheresi (Ita) Mercatone Uno 23
20. Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei 24