The Giro returns to Italy and the city most associated with Shakespeare, although it’s more a case of Nine Gentleman of Verona rather than two with today’s team time trial. Today’s route heads gently uphill into the vineyards above Verona ahead of what is likely to be a fast run back into the city of Romeo and Juliet.

Team Sky have made this a big target, but will be hoping for kinder weather than two years ago when the race resumed in its home country in a similar stage in Cuneo ridden in filthy conditions. Mark Cavendish has twice ridden a Giro team time trial, and won both  – the opening stage in 2009 in Venice, and again last year in Turin. As the Italian saying goes, “Non c’e due senza tre” – loosely translated as “Everything comes in threes.”

GT: We’re looking to do a good ride there. We’ve got a few good engines here but the main thing is riding it properly. As long as we get that right, we’ll be up there. Obviously there’s a few good teams – Garmin, GreenEdge, they were phenomenal in Tirreno. Liquigas always seem to pull out a good team time trial as well, but it’s pretty flat so that could favour us rather than them. I’d have thought the winner would come from one of those. Even if there have been winds in Denmark, the time differences between the top ten on GC at least will be small, so it’s also a good opportunity for teams to really go for it and tryand get the jersey.

For more on this year's race read our full Giro d'Italia Preview.