Giro d'Italia: Elia Viviani wins stage two as Michael Matthews takes lead

Team Sky’s Elia Viviani sprinted to victory on stage two of the Giro d’Italia in Genova as Michael Matthews replaced Orica-GreenEdge team-mate Simon Gerrans in the overall lead of the race.

Viviani didn’t have a lead-out but used the slipstream of his rivals to beat Moreno Hofland (LottoNL-Jumbo) narrowly into second place and Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) into third in Genova.

It was the Italian’s second victory of the season and first in a grand tour.

Matthews finished seventh and takes over in the pink jersey from Gerrans, who was 19th, by virtue of cumulative placings from the two stages of the race so far.

Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) remains 20 seconds ahead of rival Richie Porte (Team Sky) in the general classification after the pair crossed the line in the peloton in 24th and 22nd place respectively.

Rigoberto Uran (Etixx – Quick-Step) and Fabio Aru (Astana), the other contenders for overall victory, also finished in the peloton.

The race continues on Monday with a 136km third stage from Rapallo to Sestri Levante.

Stage two result

1 Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky, 4:13:18

2 Moreno Hofland (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, same time

3 Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal, st

4 Luka mezgec (Slo) Giant-Alpecin, st

5 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Southeast, st

6 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek Factory Racing, st

7 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, st

8 Davide Appollonio (Ita) Androni-Sidermec, st

9 Daniele Colli (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini, st

10 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana, st

General classification

1  Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, 4:32:44

2  Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, same time

3  Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, st 

4  Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge, st

5  Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo +7secs

6  Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo, st

7  Michael Rogers (Aus) Tinkoff-Saxo, st

8  Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo, st

9  Ivan Rovnyi (Rus) Tinkoff-Saxo, st

10 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana, +13