Chris Froome

Chris Froome is nine seconds off the overall lead at the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race after BMC won Wednesday's opening team time-trial. Italian Damiano Caruso will wear the first race leader's blue jersey for the second year in a row as BMC beat Australian outfit Mitchelton-Scott by four seconds on the 21.5km course in Lido Di Camaiore. Froome's under-fire Team Sky were third at nine seconds. "Today G (Geraint Thomas) and Chris put in good performances, stages three and four are very important and they look as though they are in good form," said Sky sports director Matteo Tosatto.