Giro 2019: Sprint win Ackermann in stage 2, Roglic stays in lead

At 205 kilometres, the 2nd stage of the Giro features a lumpy middle section, while the finale is played out on the flat. Ackermann sprints to victory ahead of Viviani and Ewan, while Roglic retains the maglia rosa. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage Giro d’Italia 2019

1. Pascal Ackermann (ger)
2. Elia Viviani (ita) s.t.
3. Caleb Ewan (aus) s.t.
4. Fernando Gaviria (col) s.t.
5. Arnaud Démare (fra) s.t.
6. Davide Cimolai (ita) s.t.
7. Viacheslav Kuznetsov (rus) s.t.
8. Jasper De Buyst (bel) s.t.
9. Kristian Sbaragli (ita) s.t.
10. Rüdiger Selig (ger) s.t.

GC after stage 2
1. Primoz Roglic (slo)
2. Simon Yates (gbr) + 0.19
3. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 0.23
4. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.28
5. Tom Dumoulin (nld) s.t.
6. Rafal Majka (pol) + 0.33
7. Tao Geoghegan Hart (gbr) + 0.35
8. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 0.39
9. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 0.40
10. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 0.42

13. Bob Jungels (lux) + 0.46
14. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 0.47
18. Davide Formolo (ita) + 0.50
28. Pavel Sivakov (rus) + 1.01
29. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
36. Mikel Landa (spa) + 1.07
53. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 1.20

Race report
KOM leader Giulio Ciccone joins forces with François Bidard, Marco Frapporti, Mirco Maestri, Lucasz Owsian, Damiano Cima, Sean Bennett and William Clarke. The eight open up a gap of almost 5 minutes before the peloton takes them on a leash.

On the hardest climb of the day – to Montalbano – the lead has fallen to 2 minutes. Ciccone sets the pace and Bidard and Owsian are the only riders to stay in his wheel. The KOM leader pockets the mountain points on the top before he does the same on the last classified hill of the day.

The breakaway ends 7 kilometres before the finish in Fucecchio, while Ackermann outpowers each and everyone in the ensuing bunch sprint. Viviani comes in second, Ewan in third.

Another interesting read: route 2nd stage 2019 Giro.