To the surprise of most observers an extraordinary performance from Movistar Team put the Spanish squad in 2nd place of stage two in the 2013 Giro d'Italia, a 17.4 km team time trial in the Isola d'Ischia.

Following a blasting opening on the TTT, Movistar completed an impressive effort to finish just nine seconds slower than the winners, British team Sky. The Spanish team was fastest through the intermediate point, enjoying a two seconds’ advantage and kept the pace impeccably in the second part of the route, with five riders coming together to the finish: Intxausti, Capecchi, Dowsett, José Herrada and KOM Giovanni Visconti. At the end of the day, though, they had to submit to the pounding pace set by the British team.

Sunday brought more than just good news for the Spanish team, though. On a negative note Juanjo Cobo sustained a serious blow to his knee during the route inspection after accidentally hitting his handlebars. Ice was instantly put on the injured knee, but during the TTT the Spaniard struggled and failed to stay with his teammates, losing more than two and a half minutes at the finish.

Intxausti is the best placed Movistar rider in 6th as Salvatore Puccio (Sky) takes over the 'maglia rosa' before a difficult stage three on Monday: 222 km between Sorrento and Marina di Ascea, with the Cat. 3 climb of Sella di Catona at 20 km from the finish before a tricky descent in the finale.