Orica-GreenEdge's hard work pays off with Giro d'Italia lead
Team time trial specialists Orica-GreenEdge celebrate another victory in the discipline, with Svein Tuft wearing the maglia rosa in Belfast


The wind blew rain and cold air over Belfast but that did not stop team Orica-GreenEdge from enjoying its prize this morning. Yesterday evening, it won the team time trial and put Canadian Svein Tuft in the Giro d'Italia race leader's pink jersey. The Aussie team focuses specifically on the event and just like in the Tour de France last year, it saw its hard work pay off.
Tuft stepped out of Orica's white bus in a black rain cape, but underneath, he wore the cherished pink jersey. The race organiser began awarding the top to its leaders 83 years ago in 1931. It selected pink to match the colour of the La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper that started the race in 1909.
"I'd say our efforts have been worthwhile," the team's general manager, Shayne Bannan told Cycling Weekly. "When we started as a team, we knew that if we focused on this event we could be rewarded. We've now won the yellow and pink jerseys."
After helping the Australian track team, Bannan turned to the road. He debuted his country's first ever top-level pro team in 2012 with businessman Gerry Ryan's help. The two decided specifically to sign “strong engines” and riders who could win team time trials.
"We knew that it is an event that if you put your mind to it, there's not that much luck to it, sometimes just the weather," Bannan said. "It's something you can be successful at it. If you put in time and effort, you get the reward."
Orica covered the 21.7-kilometre course in 24-42 minutes yesterday. Omega Pharma, which won the World Championship title in Florence last year, placed second at five seconds back.
The two teams often go back and forth in the time trials. Orica beat Omega Pharma by 0.75 seconds at the Tour de France and Omega Pharma turned it around to win the worlds by 0.81 seconds. To compete, the teams need capable cyclists, time and equipment.
"We worked together with our partners to challenge them to make sure the equipment is state of art," said Bannan.
"We put time into recon, as well. For this team time trial, we did the simple things. We had a good look at the course, making sure the lines we rode were correct and that we avoided the road furniture and cat eyes. What you can control is keeping out of danger, to make sure you take the safest and most effective line."
Tuft rode by to the start line on his pink carbon frame. The team prepared it in advance because it knew that the nine men had a chance to win and that one, Tuft, would be the one to lead over the finish line. Bannan looked over at 37-year-old Tuft and smiled.
"He really epitomises what the team is about: unselfish, worker and tries to get the best out of his team-mates," Bannan said. "We wanted to give him a chance to shine. After a long career, he's got it. He deserved it."
Orica-GreenEdge wins Giro d'Italia opening team time trial
Orica-GreenEdge's Svein Tuft takes race lead in Belfast as Dan Martin crashes out
Svein Tuft: 'a dream come true' at the Giro d'Italia
Canadian Svein Tuft reflects on his leadership of the Giro d'Italia after stage one
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
Which of these six tubeless sealants passed our screwdriver test?
We put six popular brands to the test with the higher pressures of road tyres
By Stefan Abram • Published
-
Is social media ruining your relationship with cycling?
Cutting back has been shown to have mental health benefits, but what’s the right balance to strike?
By Anna Marie Hughes • Published
-
Simon Yates to target stage wins after ending general classification challenge at Giro d'Italia
Team BikeExchange-Jayco rider to hunt stage wins in final two weeks
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'I just tried to go as fast as possible' — Simon Yates on his Giro d'Italia time trial win
Team BikeExchange-Jayco rider beat Mathieu van der Poel by three seconds
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Simon Yates aims for podium at Giro d'Italia
Team BikeExchange-Jayco build team around Briton as he chases top-three again
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Kaden Groves sprints to victory on stage two of Volta a Catalunya as crosswinds and crashes impact race
BikeExchange-Jayco win second stage in a row but Simon Yates loses time after crash
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Michael Matthews storms to victory on opening stage of Volta a Catalunya
Australian wins for a second time in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, outsprinting Sonny Colbrelli
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'If you don't try then you never know': Simon Yates after final day win at Paris-Nice
BikeExchange-Jayco rider attacked on Col d'Èze to take stage eight and seal second overall
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mikel Nieve drops out of WorldTour to return to former team Caja Rural in 2022
The Spanish mountain domestique will be embarking on his 15th professional season
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Leaked contract shows Manuela Fundación tried to buy Mitchelton-Scott for €7 million
The failed takeover of the Australian squad, now called Team BikeExchange, caused confusion in June last year
By Jonny Long • Published