Elisa Longo Borghini took the leader's jersey after the opening stage of the Giro Rosa ©Twitter

Italian Elisa Longo Borghini took the leader's jersey after Trek-Segafredo won the team time trial on the opening stage of the Giro Rosa.

Borghini led her team across the line in 20min 05.99sec as they edged out Boels-Dolmans at the end of the 16.8 kilometre route in Grosseto.

Boels Doelmans were three seconds adrift, with Mitchelton-Scott - featuring defending champion Annemiek van Vleuten - just under five seconds back.

Borghini is the first Italian to hold the overall race lead at the Giro Rosa since 2008.

"It is the first time I have the pink jersey, and it’s just nice," said Longo Borghini.

"It was a team victory - I think every one of these girls deserves a Maglia Rosa because it has been such a good and smooth ride. 

"Thank you very much to the team."

Victory for the Trek-Segafredo will see Borghini, bronze medallist in the road race at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, take a lead into the first individual stage tomorrow.

The riders competing at the International Cycling Union Women's World Tour will tackle a route from 124.8km from Paganico to Arcidosso.

The 10-stage Giro Rosa is the only women's Grand Tour.