GIRO D'ITALIA (3)

This year's Giro started on Saturday. Not in Italy, however, but in Herning, which is in the middle of Jutland. The Grand Tours have a recent tradition of starting in, or visiting, a neighbouring country (this is the sixth time that the Giro has started outside Italy); but it is the first time that it has been so far away from the homeland, and the first time that it has been in Denmark.

There was a time trial prologue on Saturday, a flat stage around Herning on Sunday, and another flat stage around Horsens today. Tonight the teams flew off to Italy, where there will be a rest day tomorrow before the team time trial in Verona on Wednesday. The first clues to the overall winner should come later this weekend, with a couple of "lumpy" stages in the south.

The decision to come to Denmark has been justified by good weather (albeit not by Italian standards) and large crowds. It has been estimated that up to 250,000 lined the roads on Sunday, which is pretty good. The only cloud on the horizon was the death on Sunday of Horsens' mayor, who has been the primus motor in getting the Giro to come here. Aged 56 and a keen sportsman, he had a heart attack during an amateur cycle race the day before the Horsens stage, at which he would have presided.

With Alberto Contador banned and a number of riders staying away in order to concentrate on the Tour de France, this year's Giro is the most open for years. There could well be a first-time winner, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Ivan Basso, winner in both 2010 and 2006, could make it a hattrick, not least because of his strong Liquigas team. He's my tip.

Walter Blotscher