Astana cruised to the win in the Giro del Trentino team time trial, giving leader Vincenzo Nibali a 14-second advantage over his rivals in the general classification.
The Kazakh team crossed the line in Torbole in 13-30, at an average speed of over 53kph over the 12.1km route.
Team Sky and Ag2r La Mondiale could only both manage times of 13-44, leaving the three WorldTour teams in the race as the fastest three finishers.
With three mountainous stages to come, including a summit finish in Anras on Wednesday, Sky's Mikel Landa and Ag2r duo of Romain Bardet and Domenico Pozzovivo have some catching up to do to reel back Nibali.
British youngster Hugh Carthy finished 54-seconds down on Astana with his Caja Rural teammates in 13th place.
Giro del Trentino stage one, Riva - Torbole (12.1km TTT)
1. Astana (Kaz), 13-30
2. Team Sky (GBr), at 14s
3. Ag2r La Mondiale (Fra), st
4. Bora-Argon 18 (Ger), at 16s
5. Gazprom-RusVelo (Rus), at 21s
6. Bardiani-CSF (Ita), at 34s
7. Nippo-Vini Fantini (Ita), st
8. Southeast-Venezuela (Ita) at 35s
9. Androni Giacattoli-Sidermec (Ita), at 36s
10. Italy (Ita), at 44s
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
-
-
David Millar: Why Mark Cavendish deserves to be at the Tour de France
Cav has bridged generations in a way no one else could, he shows what's possible
-
Young and talented: Meet the seven Americans racing Le Tour
Young and talented: Meet the seven American bike racers ringing Le Tour de France in 2022.
-
'Dismiss Geraint Thomas at your peril' — Bradley Wiggins sees Welshman as Tour de France 'underdog'
Ineos Grenadiers rider will head to Tour off the back of Tour de Suisse win
-
Covid threatens to disrupt Tour de France line-up
Virus sweeps through the peloton at key preparation races with Tour de Suisse race leader Vlasov forced to abandon
-
Adam Yates out of Tour de Suisse with covid
Brit returns a positive test for coronavirus but the rest of Ineos Grenadiers will race on in Switzerland.
-
Can anyone stop the Jumbo juggernaut? Five talking points from the Critérium du Dauphiné
Wout van Aert and Primož Roglič are the best at the French race, but the Tour de France is another level up
-
Filippo Ganna storms to time trial victory on stage four of the Critérium du Dauphiné
Wout van Aert second on stage yet again, Belgian remains in yellow jersey with increased lead
-
Second at the Giro d'Italia an unwanted birthday present for Richard Carapaz
Ineos Grenadiers leader all but certain to finish as runner-up after tumultuous penultimate day
-
Is this Ineos Grenadiers' Tour de France team? Geraint Thomas teases with eight-man training squad photo
It would not be a surprise to see the same faces in Copenhagen
-
Vincenzo Nibali rolls back the years with shark attack on stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia
37-year-old up to fifth on general classification with five stages left
