On Stage 1 of Team Argos-Shimano’s first Giro D’Italia, John Degenkolb finished at the front of the main peloton after the bunch split in the closing kilometres following a crash.

Argos-Shimano attempted to control the race on the opening day to set up the sprint for Degenkolb but were derailed in their efforts after being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) eventually won the stage from a group of 10 riders after 130 km of racing around Naples.

Following the stage, Koen De Kort summarized the events of the day: “We lost each other already before the sprint started, and tried to regroup but then the crash destroyed our chances,” he explained on the team website. We tried to bring John back in position but when we found out that we wouldn’t make it we knew our chance was over. If there was no crash I am sure that we could have dropped John off in the right position with four guys but unfortunately things like that happen. We rode a fantastic race together; we stayed [together] the whole time as a team. There are more chances to come. It’s good to see the team is looking so strong!”