Yet his decision to compete in the Giro came only a week before the
three-week race opened in Sicily.
After winning the Tour of Romandie, a six-day Swiss race, the former world time-trial
champion considered that his form, which had already produced nine victories, was too good
to waste.
On Tuesday he broke free of a toiling pack in the last 50 metres of an uphill finish to
the fourth stage over 186 kilometres from Vibo Valentia.
Italians Gian Matteo Fagnini and Davide Rebellin closed on Jalabert but the Frenchman
had sufficient advantage to risk a vigorous victory salute at the line.
Blijlevens increased his race lead by two seconds when he took third place, worth a
deduction of two seconds from his aggregate time, in an intermediate sprint.
That put him 10 seconds clear of overnight challenger Mario Cipollini but the Italian
slipped out of contention when he finished 27 seconds in arrears in Tuesday's stage.
Italy's Mauro Radaelli had won the intermediate sprint during his lone breakaway that
lasted 111 km and at one point made him the leader 'on the road' as the race hugged the
coast of the Gulf of Saint Eufemia.
There was, however, no sweet smell of success for Radaelli. He was overhauled 23 kms
from the Calabrian spa finish where sulphur fumes filled the air.
Jalabert's team manager Manolo Saiz had considered the finishing climb "too short
for Jalabert. He needs something longer."
Inside the final 100 metres it looked like being a duel between Jalabert and world road
race champion Oscar Camenzind of Switzerland.
"I made a big mistake by attacking, with Jalabert sitting at my rear wheel,"
said Camenzind, who finished fourth.
Camenzind will again be a threat in Wednesday's stage, the first mountain-top finish of
this Giro, and Jalabert said: "The pressure is on me because everyone sees me as the
favourite but Rebellin is one to watch.
"It will be a difficult, but important, day. There are many who will try for the
leader's jersey but I don't think Marco Pantani (last year's winner) will want the colours
too soon."
Faced with two mountain passes to cross on Wednesday, Blijlevens knows his time will be
up when the race climbs to the finish on Monte Sirino.
"I have done everything to keep the jersey but this will be my last day as
leader," he said.
