 The first individual time trial ( ITT ) of the 2009 Giro was a difficult one , long with quite a lot of climbing . There were two categorized climbs on the course , a quick , intense descent between them and no flat stretches at all . Lance Armstrong , who rode the Giro for the first time in 2009 , described the ITT as " wicked hard " . Reigning Olympic time trial champion Fabian Cancellara called it " crazy " and laughed when asked if he would be a contender for victory . Cancellara was in fact the only rider who was still in the race to this point who did not attempt the time trial , instead abandoning the Giro . 
