Mark Cavendish became the first race leader, as he won the opening stage in Naples; the first of two stage wins that Cavendish achieved during the opening half of the race, along with the sixth stage. As a result, Cavendish was the only rider to win multiple stages in the opening half of the race. Cavendish lost the race lead the following day, as his team failed to a sufficient time for him to remain in the jersey. won the stage, which put Salvatore Puccio into the maglia rosa after he had placed highest during the opening stage, out of the five remaining members of the train at the finish. Luca Paolini soloed into the leader's jersey after the third stage, attacking with remaining and held clear of the field to win by sixteen seconds. He held the leader's jersey for four days, before losing it on the seventh stage, held in heavy rain.
