Tirreno opener and Paris-Nice stage 4 round-up

Euskaltel got their Tirreno-Adriatico campaign off to a lousy start in today's opening team time trial. The eight riders finished 21st out of 22 participating teams, a full 1:25 down on runaway winners GreenEdge. Only Colombian upstarts Colombia-Coldeportes ceded more time over the 16,9km course between San Vincenzo and Donoratico.

The riders representing Euskaltel in Italy are: Jon Izagirre, Mikel Landa, Egoi Martínez, Juan José Oroz, Rubén Pérez, Amets Txurruka, Pablo Urtasun and Gorka Verdugo.

The team finally got their orange jerseys on the TV screen in the Paris-Nice today. On the hilly fourth stage from Brive-la-Gaillarde and Rodez, Gorka Izagirre showed his attacking instincts by figuring in a dangerous-looking late-race move. The Ormaiztegi native didn't get a big gap though and was rather quickly reeled back in.

Resurgent Belgian Gianni Meersman sprinted to the win from a 57-man strong first group, a group including strong duo Igor Antón and Mikel Astarloza.

Stage results:

• (1, Gianni Meersman, Lotto-Belisol)
• 44, Igor Antón, s.t.
• 57, Mikel Astarloza, s.t.
• 62, Romain Sicard, 0:54
• 84, Gorka Izagirre, 1:32
• 118, Peio Bilbao, 9:56
• 119, Pierre Cazaux, s.t.
• 154, Adrián Sáez, 13:21
• 155, Ricardo García, s.t.