They posted the fastest time of stage two on the tiny island of Ischia, covering the 17.4 kilometres course in 22min 05sec at an average speed of 47.27 kilometres per hour. 

Sir Bradley, Salvatore Puccio, Dario Cataldo, Rigoberto Uran and Sergio Henao produced a breathtaking performance on the Mediterranean island to finish nine seconds ahead of Movistar in second.

Sir Bradley also put 14 seconds on Astana - and Italian rival Vincenzo Nibali - in third, whilst Canada's defending champion Ryder Hesjedal finished 25 seconds back with Garmin-Sharp.

The 33-year-old Londoner now has a healthy position from which to try to build on during the next three weeks of riding as he seeks to become the first Briton to win the Giro, the opening Grand Tour of the year.

"I'm very proud as it was a technical course, a hard course and they rode fantastically well," said Sir Dave Brailsford, Team Sky's principal.

"There was no flat where they could really open it up, so it was more of a power climb and a descent.

"It was all about keeping the team together." Team Sky's Salvatore Puccio celebrates with his colleagues after they won stage two of the Giro dItalia

Team Sky's Italian rider Puccio, 24, took over the pink jersey on home soil from Britain's Mark Cavendish, riding for Omega Pharma-Quick Step, who had won yesterday's opening stage in Naples.

"Today was an incredible result and it is a huge surprise," said Puccio, awarded the jersey by virtue of being the highest placed Team Sky rider in the opening stage.

"I could never have thought this morning that I would be pulling on the maglia rosa [pink jersey].

"It is incredible.

"Once again the team showed how strong we are.

"Everyone put in a huge effort and it is very satisfying to be part of a big team result like this.

"For an Italian rider the maglia rosa is one of the best things that can happen to you."

Tomorrow's stage is a 222km ride to Marina Di Ascea with two more time trials to come for Sir Bradley to assert this influence over his rivals. 

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