Jake Stewart: 'For the last few years, I've been working on that leadout role. It's a role I'm really excited about and keen to learn more about' (Image credit: Getty Images)

When more than half a team fall in a high-speed crash in a single stage of any race, it's never straightforward to regain momentum, but that's exactly what NSN are focussed on doing at the Giro d'Italia .

Stewart has won sprints of his own during his career, most notably at the Critérium du Dauphiné last year. But as Jake Stewart told Cyclingnews , at the Giro d'Italia the squad's main focus on the flatter stages is on getting fastmen Corbin Strong and Ethan Vernon into a position where they can go for the victory.

However, a third place on stage 1 for Vernon, despite the late pile-up in Burgas, had already augured well.…