Giro d'Italia Stage 2: Andre Greipel takes stage and race lead

Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) took stage two of the Giro d’Italia following a sprint finish. It was the seventh Giro stage win of the German’s career and he secured the maglia rosa as a consequence.

It was a relatively long medium mountain stage, but the shallow gradients meant that few sprinters were ejected from the peloton.

Come the finish, no-one could match Greipel – although Australian rider Caleb Ewan will doubtless claim he could have contested the win had he not come unclipped after rubbing shoulders with Fernando Gaviria just as he was launching his sprint.

Roberto Ferrari (Team UAE Emirates) came second with Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) third.

Lukas Postlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe), race leader after stage one, dropped to second overall after finishing 15^th.

Speaking after the stage, Greipel said: “This is a really good one of course. It wasn't an easy day with the head wind. It made a six hours race, but it also played in our favour. Otherwise there would have been some attacks.

“I'm really proud to win at the Giro again. I'm glad to win for my team-mates who worked for me since yesterday. This stage win and the pink jersey are for them and also for my mother.”