Worrying mediocre day in Tirreno with seventeen days to the World's.
I don't think he is riding T-A for the win, he even soft pedaled when the 3rd group came in, to lose contact with the group.
My guess is he is still building his form, which is timed to start the peak at Worlds, and continue it thoughout the Giro.
As such I am thinking he is riding for Vlasov at T-A.