Max Sciandri & Pascal Richard warm-up

It's happening, right here, right now, in the Eternal City, in the shadow of the Vatican. The Linda McCartney Pro Cycling Team have become the first British team in history to start the Giro d'Italia, and the first for 13 years to take on one of the great tours.

"Today, the object is to avoid calamities," smiled manager Sean Yates before the team's nine riders tackled the short prologue time-trial. Without a specialist in the team, the trick is to cover the course incident free without losing more than a few seconds to the experts.

British fans will recognise the short prologue as Chris Boardman's speciality, but in the absence of his French Credit Agricole team who were not selected for this event, it was Jan Hruska who took the win. The Vitalicio rider won by a split second from home favourite Paolo Savoldelli, who proved that his win at last week's Tour of Romandie was excellent preparation for this race. Close behind was a resident of Toulouse's cycling fraternity, Aussie Brad McGee, a regular training partner of the McCartney clan, just in front of the larger-than-life Mario Cipollini.

But the day belonged to none of these men, or any of the Linda McCartney squad who showed the new professionalism and performance that this team is becoming renowned for. Today was a day for Marco Pantani. From the second that Il Pirata rolled down the start ramp, through the twisting, ancient cobbled streets, until he swung right to take in the breathtaking view of the finishing straight up to the Vatican, the crowd roared his name. Despite losing in excess of 30 seconds to Hruska and Savoldelli, they went wild for him at the finish in one of the most uplifting returns this sport has seen in many years. Baldy is back.

The Giro is stuffed with idiosyncracies and inconsistencies, that's why the race due to start outside the Vatican finished outside the Vatican, that's why the race of 6kms was raced over 4.6kms, and that's why a man once revered, then reviled, can overnight become a hero once more. He won't enjoy an easy return to the professional peloton, however. Many other riders fear Pantani's legendary prowess in the mountains, and are unwilling to allow him to coast through the early part of this race. They know that a year out of the sport leaves Marco an unknown force, and they intend to drain him of what they see as his limited capacities before he has the opportunity to shine. For his part, the man from Cesenatico says that he is merely "seeing how things go," and will use this event to prepare for July's Tour de France.

No. 101 Max Sciandri turned in Linda McCartney's best ride, an excellent 5'51" putting him within 13 seconds of Hruska and into 30th place in what is certainly the strongest field assembled in the world this year. Tayeb Braikia was a mere second behind him; evergreen Olympic Champion Pascal Richard another two seconds back. Both Sciandri and Richard received warm welcomes from the crowd - they know stars when they see them here.