The Giro d’Italia is known for throwing in some odd stages, and it didn’t take long for the 2013 edition to encounter one. We’ll have live updates from 11.30pm AEST.
Stage 2 is a team time trial on the small island of Isola d’Ischia of 17.4 kilometres. A short ferry ride from Naples, what makes this stage unique is that none of the riders have been able to ride the course.
A number of teams have driven it and taken video footage to show the riders, but actually riding it will be a new experience for all of the peloton.
The course is basically flat, with four small climbs encountered, but the last 2.5 kilometres are packed with dangers, including some sharp turns at the bottom of quick descents and a tunnel with just 250 metres to go.
Garmin Sharp look the team to beat, and a win here could give defending champion Ryder Hesjedal a few valuable seconds over his rivals.
Australian hope Cadel Evans and his BMC team should also be right up there, Evans hoping that he can turn around his disappointing early season form and mount a serious challenge for the maglia rosa.
Mark Cavendish’s hold on the pink jersey after his stunning sprint win in the opening stage could be short lived, with his Omega Pharma-Quick Step outfit not expected to be among the main contenders on this stage. You can view the final kilometre and Cav’s powerful finish here
Join me for all the action from 11.30pm AEST.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Full Results: 1 Sky Procycling 0:22:05 2 Movistar Team +0:00:09 3 Astana Pro Team 0:00:14 4 Katusha 0:00:19 5 Vini Fantini-Selle Italia 0:00:22 6 Lampre-Merida 7 Garmin-Sharp 0:00:25 8 Blanco Pro Cycling Team 0:00:28 9 Orica-GreenEdge 10 Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:00:34 11 Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:00:35 12 BMC Racing Team 0:00:37 13 Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox 0:00:41 14 RadioShack Leopard 0:00:43 15 Team Saxo-Tinkoff 16 Androni Giocattoli 0:00:46 17 Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:00:48 18 Ag2R La Mondiale 0:00:50 19 FDJ 0:00:55 20 Colombia 0:00:56 21 Lotto Belisol 0:01:00 22 Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:01:01 23 Team Argos-Shimano 0:01:13
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
That's all from me, thank you for joining us for Stage 2 of the Giro d'Italia. Keep checking The Roar for all your Giro related stories and live blogs. Goodnight.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
With flat stages ahead, Salvatore Puccio could spend a little bit of time in pink. I think he'll enjoy that.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
By virtue of their 9 second win in today's Time Trial, Salvatore Puccio, Bradley Wiggins and Rigoberto Uran have 9 seconds over their nearest rivals in the General Classification
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
Wiggins has a blow up character on the stage. He sure is a character himself. The Sky team all look very relaxed.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
Champagne fight amongst the 9 Sky riders...great stuff! The podium girls in white dresses wisely get away in a hurry.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
The Sky riders positively beaming as they are presented to the crowd on the podium, and why wouldn't they be - they finished over half an hour ago!
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
Rigoberto Uran drapes an English flag around Salvatore's shoulders, not sure he appreciated it!
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
The Eurosport reporter asks questions in English, Salvatore answers in Italian, which is fair enough in the Giro - but doesn't help me tell you what he had to say as my Italian is very, very ordinary. I assume he said he's excited and overcome with emotion, and that his Mum always said pink was his colour.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
Salvatore Puccio of Team Sky will be wearing the pink jersey. An Italian in pink, they'll be ecstatic!
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
Mark Cavendish is dripping sweat like a tap. A few reporters stick microphones under his nose, but he's having none of it.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
So Sky win in 22:05, Movistar 2nd 9 seconds back and Astana 3rd a further 5 seconds behind Movistar.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
22:53 and 17th place for Omega-Pharma Quick Step. Cav loses the Maglia Rosa.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
Omega Pharma-Quick Step have just one kilometre to go. They're definitely not going to post a good time.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
Just one team out on course then, Omega Pharma-Quick Step. Cavendish looks likely to lose his pink jersey. They are down to 8 riders already.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
The time isn't great, but still a decent effort, 22:33 and 9th position from the team from Australia.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
Here come the Orica GreenEDGE boys!!!
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
BMC and Cadel Evans are home in 22:42. That's 37 seconds Cadel has lost to Wiggins, he won't be happy with that at all. Makes his task all the harder, but if anyone can do it, Cadel can, there are still almost 3 weeks of racing left after all.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
Garmin Sharp finish in 22:30, 25 seconds behind Sky. Ryder Hesjedal won't be happy losing that much time to Bradley Wiggins.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
10:34 for Omega Pharma-Quick Step at the checkpoint, 18th quickest of the 23 teams - pretty disappointing effort.