Andreas Kloden claims 2011 Giro del Trentino opener

Andreas Klöden (RadioShack) continues his early season winning form and notched victory in Tuesday’s TT opener at the Giro del Trentino in northern Italy.

Klöden nipped Adriano Malori (Lampre) by one second to win on the 13.4km course between Riva del Garda and Arco. RadioShack teammate Tiago Machado stopped the clock third at 8 seconds adrift while pre-race favorite Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) was fourth at 10 seconds back.

Michele Scarponi (Lampre) and Roman Kreuziger (Astana), two other favorites, stopped the clocked at 26 seconds and 27 seconds adrift, respectively, to dig themselves a hole early in the four-day race.

UnitedHealthcare’s Scott Zwizanski was the top American, in seventh at 21 seconds.

“Scott did an excellent job today,” said team director, Eric Greene. “He has been fighting a pretty bad flu for the past two weeks and it was good to see him power through the opening time trial.”

Zwizanski said the results was a confidence builder. “To pull a top 10 against a field like this really helps build confidence. This team has tremendous potential; we’re going to keep pushing for the podium.”

So far in 2011, Klöden has seen his best form in years. Tuesday’s win was his fourth on the 2011 season, which includes a stage victory at Paris-Nice, a time trial win at Critérium International and the overall crown at the Vuelta al País Vasco.

The 35^th edition of the Italian race continues Wednesday with the hilly, 184km stage from Dro to Ledro Bezzecca. The stage concludes with a moderate, 12km climb with ramps as steep as 4.5 percent, certainly steep and long enough to split the bunch.

Quick results

• 1. Andreas KLÖDEN, (GER) Team RadioShack, in 15:24
• 2. Adriano MALORI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 1
• 3. Tiago MACHADO, (POR) Team RadioShack, at 8
• 4. Vincenzo NIBALI, (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo, at 10
• 5. Luca ASCANI, (ITA), at 11