 After the team had been shut out in early season stage races, Cancellara was victorious in the short individual time trial that closed out Tirreno – Adriatico. Taking the course some two hours before the race's top riders, the four-time world champion covered the 9.3 km (5.8 mi) distance in 10' 33 ", and only one rider came within ten seconds of his time. At Critérium International in March, five-time champion Voigt was hopeful of breaking the record he shares with Emile Idée and Raymond Poulidor to stand alone as a six-time champion, but admitted that the course and the weather did not suit him, and so his chances would be slim. During the decisive stage 1, Voigt bridged up to a morning breakaway some 90 km (56 mi) from the finish on the Col de l 'Ospedale. He said afterward that he might slip away unmarked and stay away for victory, but if he were chased it would make the race hard, and a hard race would suit the Schleck brothers. The latter scenario is exactly what occurred. Voigt was caught well before the summit of the Ospedale and finished the day in 75th place, over 20 minutes down, but the Schlecks both stayed with the front group on the road throughout the stage. Fränk Schleck put in his own attack for victory 2 km (1.2 mi) from the summit and stayed away for victory. Andy Schleck was tenth, a minute down on his brother. The elder Schleck brother held his advantage through the flat stage and individual time trial on day two of the three-stage race, emerging as overall victor.
