LIENZ, Austria – Bradley Wiggins led Sky to victory Tuesday in a team time trial at the Giro del Trentino, as the Tour de France winner prepares for the upcoming Giro d'Italia.
In the second of two short stages to open the four-day race, Sky clocked 15 minutes, 20.64 seconds over the 14.1-kilometer (8.8-mile) route. Astana, led by Vincenzo Nibali - seen as Wiggins' biggest rival in the two Italian races - finished second, 12.77
seconds behind.
Lampre, with 2011 Giro d'Italia winner Michele Scarponi, was third, 16.15 behind.
The stage was a good warmup for the second stage of the Giro d'Italia next month, a team time trial on the island of Ischia.
“I feel good and confident,” said Wiggins, who also won the time trial at last year's London Olympics. “Tomorrow's test at Vetriolo is going to be very tough but that's why we're here, to see where we can finish, hoping to win.”
Earlier, French rider Maxime Bouet beat Josef Cerny of the Czech Republic and Michael Rodriguez Galindo of Colombia in a three-man sprint in the opening 128.5-kilometer (80-mile) leg.
Wiggins and Nibali finished in the main pack in the morning, both 6:51 behind.
Cerny, who rides for the Polsat Polkowice team, held the overall lead after the two opening stages, which both began and finished in Lienz.
Wiggins was 12th overall, 6:03 behind, and Nibali was 17th, 6:16 behind.
Stage 3 on Wednesday is a 220-kilometer (137-mile) leg from Sillian, Austria, to Vetriolo Terme, Italy, featuring two major climbs, including an uphill finish. – Sapa-AP