Team Sky won the team time trial marking stage 2 of the 2013 Giro d'Italia yesterday – their first team TT victory in a grand tour – by nine seconds over Movistar.
And while the British outfit took top honours, a number of teams who are usully powerful TTT performers, including Garmin-Sharp, BMC Racing and Cannondale, were off the pace. It means the pink jersey was passed from Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) to Team Sky’s second year pro Salvatore Puccio.
As the riders prepared for the 17.4km race on the island of Ischia, with its winding roads, BikeRadar were in the start pen to watch them make last-minute changes and checks to their bikes. The area was bustling with activity as mechanics swapped wheels, checked tyres for bits of flint and gave out water bottles. Check out our image gallery, right, to get a sense of the action.
At the final moment, Bradley Wiggins opted not to ride the specially, brand new Pinarello Bolide because of a minor problem. The hiccupp didn't interupt the team's concentration and they flashed aroung the technical course as a well-drilled unit. Wiggins is now expected to give the Bolide its first outing on stage 8, the 54.8km individual time trial from Gabicce Mare to Saltara.