By John Trevorrow in Giffoni Valle Piana
For prologue winner Brett Lancaster (Ceramica Panaria), the Sunday he spent in the Giro's pink jersey will be one of his most memorable days on a bike. At the start of stage 3 in Diamante, Cyclingnews spoke to him about his experience. "It was just brilliant, especially being in an Italian team, everyone yelling out your name along the way," said Lancaster. "It was a pretty special feeling.
"All the Aussies congratulated me and now Robbie's in the pink so Aussies are taking over again. I tried to hold the pink jersey up that tough hill [in stage 1] but I got chopped on the corners. No-one was going to stop Bettini. He was a level above everybody else."
We asked Lancaster what's in store for him from now on: "A bit of work for the team, especially [for Paride] Grillo. He's got awesome legs at the moment. He's only young, but I'm pretty certain he can maybe get up for the win. He got chopped yesterday but I believe he can win."
On his own chances, Lancaster said, "I'd really like to try and win the stage into Pistoia, my home town. It depends what the team lets me do. I know all the roads around there. If I can get up the road in that stage, that will help me a lot. There's a real tricky descent and I know it well, and I'm good at it. But there is a bit of a hill that might be hard with about 10 km to go. It's a good stage for Bettini and those guys.
"Depending on the legs, I might have a go in the time trial too. The time trial has got a pretty good climb of three kilometres, but I know it well and if my legs are good, I'll have a good chance."
