Tinkoff-Saxo delivered a strong opening team time trial in Giro d’Italia thereby ensuring an almost ideal starting position for Alberto Contador. The team leader notes that he’s pleased with the result and the team effort after the squad landed a second place finish, 7 seconds behind stage winner Orica-GreenEdge.
 
Upon crossing the line in Sanremo after a 17.6km flat-out effort, team leader Alberto Contador asserts that the team gave everything on the fast team time trial.
 
“I’m very happy. Not only for the result but also because everybody on the team gave a hundred percent during the race. In general, our performance was really good despite one moment where we lost organization. But we can be really happy about the result, as we have taken time on all our rivals. The time gaps between the favorites are not big, but I’ll for instance have some time on my direct rivals when we face the ITT. It’s always ideal to be ahead”, says Alberto Contador, who’s not surprised by the team’s performance on stage 1.
 
“I knew that we had a very strong team to do a good race, so finishing as we did today doesn't surprise me. From now on, we will have to take it day by day. I know that it’s something you always say, but it doesn’t make it less true, as in a grand tour you always have to be attentive on every stage. I’m already enjoying racing here in Italy with the atmosphere and fans and each moment is always very pleasant for me at Giro”, adds Alberto Contador.

Stage 1 from San Lorenzo a Mare to Sanremo presented the 22 starting teams with 17.6km of fast time trialing on a narrow bike path along the coastline. Tinkoff-Saxo finished 2nd behind Orica-GreenEdge after having led the race at the intermediate time. Head sports director Steven de Jongh underlines that the team was gunning for the win but that the result is pleasing.
 
“It was a good result. We all know that the specialist today was Orica and they had a good team. However, I’m pleased with our result. Of course we wanted more and to win but we took time on our rivals. It’s better to start 20 seconds in front than it is to start behind”, comments Steven de Jongh.
 
“Overall we did a solid time trial with only one weak spot. After 14k at full gas we had a slight gap and had to slow down. We assisted the guys a bit on the radio and they solved it straight away and did their best to get back up to top speed thereafter”, adds de Jongh.

First rider to take to the front of the Tinkoff-Saxo train after barreling down the start ramp was Chris Juul-Jensen, who underlines that the team remains focused on the overall objective.
 
“It was an almost ideal result as we took time on Alberto’s rivals such as Porte and Aru. Yesterday, we spoke about the different scenarios and it’s not as if only a victory counts. Of course we will always ride to win, but looking at and focusing on the main objective here at Giro d’Italia, which is to win overall, I think today was a fine starting scenario”, finishes Chris Juul-Jensen.
 
Stage 2 takes the riders from Albenga to Genova along the coastline of Liguria. On paper, the 177km stage is considered a day for the sprinters.