Ale-Jet, On Time; Cavendish, Delayed - Stage 2 Giro d'Italia Centoanni

Attention, Attention - For those passengers awaiting the return flight of Ale-Jet, Mr. Petacchi has finally arrived at Stage 2 of the 100th Giro d'Italia.

Injuries and a suspension dropped him from cycling’s radar, and subsequently legitimate questions arose as to whether the 35-year-old Ale-Jet would ever regain the form that earned him the distinction of being the fastest man on two wheels.

Utilizing all the mustard and guile reminiscent of another old Italian lion fending off his rivals, Alessandro Petacchi (Brakes - Farnese Vini) defended his arena, where he once won 9 stages in a single year, from the current world’s fastest title holder, Columbia's Mark Cavendish.

Results
1. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini
2. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - Highroad
3. Ben Swift (GBr) Team Katusha

Even with the victory, the General Classification continued to show the previous day's effort in the Team Time Trial.

General Classification After Stage 2
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - Highroad
2. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad
3. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad
4. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia - Highroad
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Columbia - Highroad
6. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
7. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
9. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
10. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana

Next: Stage 3 - Grado - Valdobbiadene, 198km
Another flat stage set the way for another bunch sprint.