Gerrans’ side powered round the flat 17.6 kilometres course in a best time of 19min 26sec, which got his Grand Tour campaign off to the best possible start following a tumultuous season which has been plagued by injuries.

“What an honour to have the pink jersey,” Gerrans said.

“The team were fantastic and really drove the pace and everyone was fully committed to the plan today.”

Race favourite Alberto Contador’s team Tinkoff-Saxo were second quickest in the opening stage as they finished seven seconds adrift, while the Astana Pro Team, which recently retained its World Tour licence, was third at 13 seconds.

Etixx-Quick Step, featuring Rigoberto Uran of Colombia, who has finished as runner-up at the previous two Giros D’Italia, were fourth, just ahead of Movistar, who were without Uran’s compatriot and defending champion Nairo Quintana.

The result leaves Contador in the best position of the main contenders on a day where Team Sky could only manage a ninth-place finish, some 27 seconds off the pace.

Despite the slightly disappointing result, Australian Richie Porte remains confident, saying it was a “good start” for his team.

“That was terribly fast,” Porte said.

“I think we were good today everyone was pretty smooth and solid, I think we did a good job.

“The race isn’t going to be won today, but I think it’s a good way to start the race.”

Contador is bidding to etch his name into the cycling record books by becoming the first man to achieve a Giro-Tour de France double since the feat was last managed by Italy’s Marco Pantani 17 years ago.

“We’re very happy, we put a lot of work into this team time trial even if we’re not a team of specialists,” Tinkoff-Saxo team-mate Michael Rogers added.

The next of 21 stages at the Giro d’Italia, which concludes in Milan on May 31, is another largely flat stage, covering 177km from Albenga to Genoa which takes place tomorrow.

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