With everyone enjoying a well-deserved rest day we've taken the opportunity to catch up again with Michael Barry to get his views on the second week of the Giro d'Italia as well as looking ahead to the remainder of the race:

TeamSky.com: After two weeks of the Giro how do you feel personally - Sunday's climb up Monte Zoncolan in particular looked brutal, even in largely ideal weather conditions...

Michael Barry: The stage on Sunday was amazing to be a part of. The crowds were massive and animated, the course was insanely difficult, and the countryside majestic. Overall, it was a great, if damn hard, day of bike racing.

I feel reasonably good and seem to be recovering well. My legs were sore after the few days I spent last week hammering on the front in the wind but that pain has dissipated now.

Today (Monday), we have been doing very little and are enjoying a nice hotel in the midst of some magnificent countryside. After two weeks of virtually non-stop movement it is nice to relax in one spot for 24 hours.

TeamSky.com: How do you see the team's position at the Giro - we imagine the aim now is to try and contest for stage wins in the final week?

MB: Yes. After Tuesday's mountain time trial we will reassess our goals. And, we will likely go for stage wins. There is one stage which will suit the sprinters, a few mountain days where breakaways can possibly make it to the finish for the victory and a final time trial which should suit Brad.

TeamSky.com: Are you happy with the way you've all worked as a unit in what is Team Sky's Grand Tour debut?

MB: The ambiance on the team has been very good and morale is still high. As the race has evolved we have learned to work together even better as we understand each other's strengths and weaknesses. I think we can be proud of the way we have raced.

Our positive performance is due to the unbelievable support we have had from the staff. Their enthusiasm and work ethic keeps the morale high within the riders and also keeps everything working smoothly. We are a fortunate group.

TeamSky.com: Tell us a little bit more about your display on stage nine when you were part of a four-man break which stayed clear for most of the day in appalling conditions...

MB: I jumped away with the small group to take pressure off of the team so they wouldn't have to chase on the front of the peloton all day. There was a good chance it would be a field sprint so the objective was to set Henderson up for the finale.

When the weather turned, the breakaway accelerated and the peloton shattered behind. We came very close to making it to the line for the victory and I had a lot of fun out front giving it everything in the last kilometers.

At times the water on the road was so deep it went up to our hubs. Like many of the stages in this year's Giro it will be one I will remember fondly when I am old and grey.

TeamSky.com: And finally a quick word about Bradley's condition - he's obviously eased back heading into the final week but he looked in great form on Saturday's mountain stage which bodes well for the Tour de France...

MB: He's in fine form and he will only improve in the next month. He was up front with the best on most of the big days and gauged his efforts well. He's progressing which is obviously the key to having good form in July. I would say that he is on track.