Cadel Evans (BMC) moved from sixth to second place overall Saturday at the Giro d'Italia on the strength of a seventh-place finish in the 54.8km individual time trial.

Evans powered his BMC time trial bike TM01 up the final climb to finish 39 seconds behind stage winner Alex Dowsett (Movistar Team). That was enough to slot him 29 seconds behind new race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), who finished fourth on the day. Robert Gesink (Blanco Pro Cycling) is third overall, 1’15” behind.

Evans said he knew the race against the clock would be the first crucial test of the overall contenders. "We have been looking at it for a long while and preparing for it because it was really a time trial that tested every aspect of time trialing," he said. "It was flat, fast, and technical, on fast open roads with technical descents, steep climbs and rolling climbs. So, really every variation of terrain possible. It required something special in terms of an approach and equipment." Evans said he is looking forward to the race's first rest day which comes after a 181km medium mountain stage on Sunday.

Evans clocked the third-fastest time at the first intermediate time check (26 km), 30 seconds behind Nibali and 22 seconds behind Dowsett, but was only ninth-fastest at the second time check (51.5 km). "The weather wasn't favourable for us with the winds," Evans said. "I think the earlier riders might have had a slight advantage with the wind conditions. But we did everything we could. The important thing was the classification and it was a very good day for us."

BMC Racing Team Assistant Director Fabio Baldato said the result confirms the good form of the 2011 Tour de France champion with two weeks to go in the race. "We are satisfied," he said. "We thought Cadel was good, but today we found out it was true. He is in really good shape and everything is pointing toward the podium. Twenty-nine seconds in a hard Giro like this is not too much. But we need to be focused and concentrate. Every day – every corner – can be dangerous. It can be the moment you can have a big split or
a big advantage."