Giro 2018 Stage 2: Sprint victory Elia Viviani, Rohan Dennis new leader

The 2nd stage of the Giro d'Italia is a flat affair of 167 kilometres. Rohan Dennis wins an intermediate sprint to move into the overall lead, while Elia Viviani wins the bunch sprint ahead of of Jakub Mareczko and Sam Bennett. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage 2018 Giro d’Italia

1. Elia Viviani (ita)
2. Jakub Mareczko (ita) s.t.
3. Sam Bennett (irl) s.t.
4. Niccolo Bonifazio (ita) s.t.
5. Sacha Modolo (ita) s.t.
6. Clement Venturini (fra) s.t.
7. Ryan Gibbons (rsa) s.t.
8. Manuel Belletti (ita) s.t.
9. Baptiste Plankaert (bel) s.t.
10. Jean Pierre Drucker (lux) s.t.

135. Wout Poels (nld) + 0.40

GC after the 2nd stage
1. Rohan Dennis (aus)
2. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 0.01
3. Victor Campenaerts (bel) +0.03
4. José Goncalves (por) + 0.13
5. Alex Dowsett (gbr) + 0.17
6. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 0.19
7. Simon Yates (gbr) + 0.21
8. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) + 0.22
9. Tony Martin (ger) + 0.28
10. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) s.t.

16. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 0.34
20. Chris Froome (gbr) + 0.38
24. Davide Formolo (ita) + 0.41
26. Sam Oomen (nld) + 0.44
32. Sergio Henao (col) + 0.46
34. Esteban Chaves (col) + 0.47
37. George Bennett (nzl) + 0.50
39. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.51
43. David de la Cruz (spa) + 0.53
52. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.57
63. Michael Woods (can) + 1.03
76. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 1.09
114. Wout Poels (nld) + 1.31

Race report
Lars Bak and Davide Ballerini open up a gap after almost 10 kms, while Guillaume Boivin tracks them down at km 30. It’s only then that the race settles and the breakaway widens the gap to 3’30”.

Just before tackling the only KOM climb of the day – 2.65 kms at 5.3% – the lead has fallen to 15 seconds. Enrico Barbin bridges across to take the mountain points before the breakaway is reeled in.

Since then it’s gruppo compatto. The BMC train leads out Rohan Dennis and the Australian wins the intermediate sprint. Thanks to a time bonus of 3 seconds he takes over the maglia rosa.

With 53 kms to go Guillaume Boivin gives it another go. He races to a lead of 1’30” before it goes down. The Canadian is reeled in with 17 kms to go.

In the ensuing sprint Elia Viviani outpowers Jakub Mareczko and Sam Bennett.