Team Sky were beaten by a single second in the Team Time Trial at the Coppi e Bartali in Italy.
After the morning's stage, Stage 1B was a 13.3km team time trial in Gatteo with fifty teams entering.
Polish side CCC Sprandi A set the fastest time with Davide Rebelin, the first rider home for a time of 14.49 after Southeast had led early on.
Team Sky included Ben Swift, Phillip Deignan, Kanstantsin Siutsou and American Ian Boswell and came home a second later with DS Dario Cioni saying: "In the afternoon it was a really good stage from the guys. We lost a little in the opening section where it was technical but then once the roads opened out they were really keeping a nice speed.
"Obviously it was a little disappointing to lose the race by less than a second to CCC. But we’re in a good position and there are some hard stages to come.”
Third was MTN Qhubeka A led by British rider Steve Cummings with Androni Giocattoli A, who clocked a time of 14.57 fourth and Colombia A led by Carlos Quintera in fifth.
Davide Rebelin of CCC Sprandl now leads the race going into stage two from team mates -Tomasz Kiendys, Jaroslaw Marycz and Adrian Kurek and said: "The team was very strong today. We got in the right rhythm and everyone put in a solid, fast pace.
"We now have a jersey and we will do everything in our power to maintain it until the end, until Sunday. Tomorrow and Sunday should be the most difficult step, but I think I'm in good shape, I have the support of a strong team and we are able to really go here after a very good result."