Southeast were never expected to be a contender in the Giro d'Italia team time trial and it was no surprise that they ended the stage in 18th. They now turn their attention to the sprints with Manuel Belletti and Alessandro Petacchi.

"No surprise, not an excellent result, but not bad," sports director Serge Parsani said. "It was a team time trial.We're here to win stages and now we will try to do the best tomorrow in the second stage."