Dutch Alpecin rider Mathieu van der Poel said he had entered the Giro d'Italia because he thought he could win the opening stage, and on Friday he delivered.
Van der Poel on target as he takes Giro opener france24.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from france24.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Tao Geoghegan Hart out after Paris-Nice crash on stage four
By Matt WarwickBBC Sport
Geoghegan Hart won last year s Giro d Italia
Ineos Grenadiers rider Tao Geoghegan Hart was taken to hospital for checks after crashing out of the Paris-Nice race on stage four.
The Briton, who won last year s Giro d Italia, landed on his face, head and knee, his team said, and was left feeling a bit dizzy .
The incident happened after he fell on to his right-hand side half-way through a fast hairpin corner.
. Thank you Ineos Grenadiers and the medical team for putting my long-term welfare first when it was clear I wasn t 100%.