Liquigas delivered a dominant team time trial victory against pre-stage favorites Team Sky and Garmin-Transitions to put the first Italian into the pink jersey as the 93rd Giro d’Italia returned to home roads.

Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step) wins the blustery 223km Giro stage3 from Amsterdam to Middelburg with Alexander Vinokourov taking the Pink Jersey after another crashed filled day.

Alexander Vinokourov (Astana) won Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday, dropping Katusha’s Alexander Kolobnev inside the final kilometer and crossing the line alone. It was the second victory here for Vinokourov, who first won in 2005.

Riled by the negative impact of his victory, Vinokourov took the unusual step of writing an open letter Monday in a bid to convince his detractors that his win was untainted.

Alexander Vinokourov (Astana) is back in the winner’s circle for the first time this season after winning Tuesday’s opening prologue at the four-day Giro del Trentino.

Vinokourov – who returned to competition last year after serving a racing ban for blood doping in the 2007 Tour de France – covered the 12.5km course in 15 minutes, 7 seconds (49.59kph) to grab the win and the leader’s jersey.

According to the European media, Contador is more than likely going to stay with team Astana. Whether its to see out his existing contract remains to be seen. He could be signing a new four year contract worth a reported $12 million per season.