Adam Blythe was the only BMC Racing Team rider not held up by a crash that split the peloton Saturday on the opening stage of the Giro d'Italia, while teammate Klaas Lodewyck went into the barriers but was not seriously hurt.

Fewer than two dozen riders escaped the pile-up that happened as the field of 207 riders made a right turn onto a section of pavé on the eight-kilometer finishing circuit that was part of the 130 km race. "Some guys took me with them and I crashed into the barriers," Lodewyck said. "I have a little bit of pain in my wrist on my left hand. I hope it's only pain from the crash and it goes away so I can race tomorrow pain free." Blythe finished seventh as Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) took the win ahead of Elia Viviani (Cannondale Pro Cycling) and Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ). "I was a bit blocked when the sprint started, which was a bit of a shame because Taylor (Phinney) did an amazing job for me," Blythe said. "Hopefully, I'll get another chance like that and we can have another go at it. I haven't done many bunch sprints in a long time – since the Tour of Qatar almost. So hopefully there are more to come."

Evans Happy To Get Underway
 

BMC Racing Team Assistant Director Fabio Baldato said with the exception of Lodewyck, the team emerged from a "nervous day" in relatively good shape. "It was super work by Taylor to bring Adam into good position," Baldato said. "He had to fight a little bit with Bouhanni and maybe he lost a little bit of energy there. But overall, today was good for us."

Cadel Evans said he expected a few anxious moments but was looking forward to Sunday's team time trial and the more decisive stages of the three-week race. "The start of a big Grand Tour it is always nervous," Evans said. "A tight circuit, rough roads, potholes and so on makes for a little bit of a nervous race. But I'm happy to get things underway and get through unscathed. This was just a warm-up for the next few days, which will be a clearer indicator of where the race is going to pan out."