2014 Australian time trial champion Michael Hepburn has posted ORICA-GreenEDGE’s fastest time whilst 2014 Tour of Turkey winner Adam Yates has set himself up for the week at today’s opening time trial at the Tirreno-Adriatico.

The originally scheduled first stage was a team time trial and a target for the team but bad weather over the past week saw it changed to the shortened individual time trial when parts of the course were deemed too dangerous due to damage.

Hepburn was the first rider down the start ramp for the outfit and posted the second fastest time of six minutes 15seconds as he crossed the finish line of the 5.4km course.

After all 175 riders, the 23-year-old held onto 20th position, 11seconds behind eventual winner Adriano Malori (Movistar Team).

With overall ambitions, Yates performed strongly in an event far from his pet discipline to sit just 20seconds off the pace in 75th position.

“Our guys rode quite well today,” sport director Matt White said. “Probably one of the most impressive performances was Adam Yates’ time.”

“For a little guy, the time trial doesn’t suit him but he has ridden quite well. He is 20seconds down and right where he needs to be for general classification.” 

The Tirreno-Adriatico continues tomorrow with the first road stage, a 153km journey from Camaiore to Cascina. With two early climbs unlikely to inflict too much damage, the stage looks set for a bunch sprint.