Giro d'Italia: We've started

Reto Hollenstein (Team NetApp)

Reto Hollenstein (Team NetApp) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

The first blog is from Swiss rider Reto Hollenstein. The 26-year-old is, like many of his teammates, making his first start in a Grand Tour.

Many observers were surprised when Team NetApp received a wildcard invitation to the Giro d'Italia. After all, the team didn't have any wins at all in 2011, its first year at the Professional Continental level. But this year the team has broken through, taking three wins already.

It is now happily making its Grand Tour debut, and the riders on the team will take turns recording their impressions of mixing it up with the big boys in one of the biggest races in the cycling world.