Michael Matthews has been the man to profit from Orica-GreenEDGE’s great start to the Giro d’Italia, helping the squad to team time trial victory on stage one and then taking over from team-mate Svein Tuft in the maglia rosa the following day.

The former under-23 world champion, who won two stages at the Vuelta a Espana last year, is now after more Grand Tour success with stages five and six top of his agenda.

If he can succeed on the medium medium parcours, he will further raise a profile which is already fast making him a man to watch. Matthews has already won this season, picking up a stage victory in the Basque Country, and even if stage victories elude him in Italy he will be favourite to at least retain the maglia rosa over the next two days.