The riders can enjoy a rest day after a first, hectic Giro week. Lotto Soudal already won a stage. A strong team performance led André Greipel to the victory last Thursday in Castiglione della Pescaia. In GC there are already considerable differences. Contador, Aru and Porte are the best at the moment. Jurgen Van den Broeck is now sixteenth at 3’33” of maglia rosa Alberto Contador and Maxime Monfort is seventeenth at 4’00”.

Sports director Bart Leysen makes a first evaluation.

"The stage win of André Greipel gave a boost to riders and staff. In the stage to Genova André started the sprint too early; that can happen. Apart from the actual victory that stage win is also good for the team spirit. Tomorrow the course is perfect for another bunch sprint and we want to grab that chance with both hands. Friday’s stage is completely flat, so we’re looking forward to that one as well.

"Our riders are really keen to win a second stage. The day after tomorrow the stage finishes in Imola, on the race circuit, there is a hill on that circuit. Depending on how the race develops that stage can end with a sprint as well, but it’s also an opportunity for a breakaway, just like Thursday. Adam Hansen will definitely have another go.

“It’s obvious who the three strongest riders in this race are. Top ten is still possible for Jurgen Van den Broeck and Maxime Monfort. Saturday it’s an individual time trial of 59.4 kilometres, that will be crucial. Such a distance means one can lose minutes.

"Before the start I knew the first week wouldn’t be easy, but I hadn’t expected such time gaps yet or that three riders would be so much better than the rest as Aru, Contador and Porte are now. It’s unusual in a Grand Tour.

"I expect, apart from the time trial on Saturday and mountain stage to Madonna di Campiglio on Sunday, that the second week will bring less spectacle between the GC riders.”