During the finale of Tirreno-Adriatico stage 1, Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) and Paride Grillo (Ceramica Panaria-Navigare) crossed paths and the former was not too happy. After the stage, Alessandro Petacchi, who finished in 11th, commented to La Gazzetta dello Sport, "What matters is respect. I don't understand; he did something senseless and very dangerous in a decisive moment."
The Milram train, and also Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas), were unimpressed by Grillo's jostling for position in the last three kilometres, which they claimed almost caused a crash.
The Het Volk Champion and Vice President of the International Association of Professional Cycling teams (AIGCP) talked with the rider from Como during stage two. "You do not ride like that," said Pozzato. "Petacchi did well not to crash, otherwise he and forty others would have ended up on the ground.
"I went and talked to Grillo during the race and said 'Be calm, you don't have to race like that, you have to give some respect.' And he understood."
Grillo got the last word in. "I am sorry for what has happened," he noted with sincerity. "I made an exaggeration, I made a mistake and please excuse me. I am re-entering after a so so period, and I am a sprinter and I always want to try."
