Reports in some quarters suggested the withdrawal of Chris Froome through injury could lead Sir Bradley Wiggins to take the leadership of Team Sky – even with Richie Porte swapping from Paris-Nice to ride Tirreno-Adriatico. Any doubts as to the Australian’s position as team leader were eradicated on stage three however, when Sky set him up in a good position to finish 16th on the stage, six seconds behind Michal Kwiatkowski.

Wiggins’ earlier efforts meant he finished alongside Pete Kennaugh, at 49 seconds back, with the 2012 Tour de France champion clearly in a support role for Porte in Italy. His performance as team captain at last year’s Tour of Poland – having seen his own ambitions hurt on the first day – raised speculation about whether the role could be one for him to pursue in future. Team Sky have big ambitions for Porte at Tirreno-Adriatico, and with the backing of a rider of Wiggins’ quality he has every chance of fulfilling them.