King closes first Grand Tour

Ted King completed his first Grand Tour, the Giro d'Italia, Sunday in Rome. The American rider from New Hampshire finished 111th overall and helped his Cervélo TestTeam capture four stage wins over the three weeks of racing.

"I think I'll need to come back here for vacation and truly appreciate it. The riders sort of live in this little bubble of routine day after day," King told Cyclingnews.

The bubble was the 198 riders that started the stage race May 9 in Venice. King's eight teammates accounted for four wins in the 21 stages: Carlos Sastre's wins on Monte Petrano and Vesuvio, Simon Gerrans' in Bologna and Ignas Konovalovas time trial win in Rome yesterday.

King helped 2008 Tour de France winner Sastre fight for the overall title. He finished fourth overall, 3:46 back from overall winner Denis Menchov. King finished over three hours back.

King's next races will be the Ster Elektrotoer, June 17 to 21, and the Tour of Austria, July 5 to 12.

"I will be vastly out-numbered, but I would like to have a good showing at the USA national championships. Then the Tour of Missouri will be a big proving ground for me at the end of the year."

After his return from the USA, King may re-locate his European base from Switzerland to Girona, Spain. The city is host to many English speaking cyclists.

"It will allow me to speak my own language and relax with the other English speaking riders there."