Elia Viviani sprints to Giro d'Italia stage two win
Team Sky sprinter pipped Moreno Hofland to the line in a messy sprint into the Genoa finish on stage two of the 2015 Giro d'Italia
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Kd2ymLAS727vLVi7me99jN-415-80.jpg)
Elia Viviani wins stage two of the 2015 Tour of Italy
Elia Viviani (Team Sky) took a home victory after a chaotic sprint at the end of stage two of the 2015 Giro d'Italia, narrowly pipping Moreno Hofland (LottoNL-Jumbo) to the line.
The stage looked like it would inevitably come down to a sprint with a relatively flat parcours, but the finishing circuit in Genoa was anything but a piece of cake for the riders, with crashes taking a number of riders out of contention, with Heinrich Haussler (IAM Cyling) falling twice.
Tinkoff-Saxo and Viviani's Sky, along with Orica-GreenEdge, controlled the main bunch through the closing circuit as riders fell away behind, but it descended into a chaotic finish as the sprinters found themselves going it alone, with André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) the first to launch his sprint in earnest.
Hofland then moved round the German to look like he might take the day's spoils, but it was the Italian Viviani who bided his time to nip past Hofland's right side for his first Grand Tour win.
Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) took over the leader's pink jersey from teammate Simon Gerrans by virtue of finishing ahead of his compatriot, with Domenico Pozzovivo the only possible GC contender to lose out, finishing over a minute behind his rivals.
Earlier in the day, the first and only break got away in first 10km of racing, with Marco Frapporti (Androni-Sidermec), Lukasz Owsian (CCC), Eugert Zhupa (Southeast), Giacomo Berlato (Nippo-Vini Fantini) and Bert-Jan Lindeman (LottoNL-Jumbo) working together to extend maximum gap of 9-12. The last remaining rider, Owsian, was dragged back with 11km to go on the final circuits in Genoa.
The break contested every intermediate point for both the red jersey and blue mountains jersey along the way, with Lindeman in the first maglia azzurra of the 2015 race.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Monday's stage three sees the riders hit the first serious hills of this Giro, with 136km into Sestri Levante. A category two climb will present problems for some of the sprinters, but there should be enough time to clamber back to the bunch with a fast 50km run into the finish from the Barbagelata climb.
Results
Giro d’Italia 2015, stage two: Albenga to Genoa, 173km
1. Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky, in 4-13-18
2. Moreno Hofland (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo
3. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Soudal
4. Luka Mezgec (Slo) Giant-Alpecin
5. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Southeast
6. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek Factory Racing
7. Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
8. Davide Appollonio (Ita) Androni-Sidermec
9. Danielle Colli (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini
10. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana, all same time
Overall classification after stage two
1. Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, in 4-32-44
2. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
3. Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
4. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge, all same time
5. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo, at 7 seconds
6. Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo
7. Michael Rogers (Aus) Tinkoff-Saxo
8. Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinnkoff-Saxo
9. Ivan Rovny (Rus) Tinkoff-Saxo, all same time
10. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana, at 13 seconds
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
Unbound Gravel lottery opens two months early, ensuring riders are 'more prepared than ever'
Registration for the 2025 Unbound Gravel will open on Friday, November 1, 2024, and close two weeks later, on November 15. Lottery winners will be announced on November 21, 2024.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Star triathlete Taylor Knibb to take on world's fastest cyclists in the Olympic time trial
Colorado-based 26-year-old Taylor Knibb will be representing Team USA in both the individual time trial and triathlon at the Paris Olympics.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
It's time to stop expecting so much of Ineos Grenadiers at the Tour de France
The British team are always under pressure to match their past best, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tom Pidcock says Ineos Grenadiers will be 'better' at the Tour de France without Steve Cummings
Netflix series depicted tension between the DS and rider, dynamic sources told Cycling Weekly carries a degree of accuracy
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'dreaming' of taking yellow jersey on opening weekend of Tour de France
British rider hopes to play starring role in Italian Grand Départ
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I think I'll get the opportunity to go for a stage' - Geraint Thomas relishing support role at Tour de France
Former yellow jersey winner says this year's race "could be my last"
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Carlos Rodríguez to lead Ineos Grenadiers at Tour de France, supported by Geraint Thomas and Tom Pidcock
British squad will aim to "race aggressively and disrupt" at the French Grand Tour
By Adam Becket Published
-
21 things you didn't know about Tom Pidcock
According to the man himself, he's never had a hangover. It's alright for some.
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock adds extra mountain bike race to schedule, one week before Tour de France
Pidcock confirms he will race World Cup event in Crans Montana, Switzerland ahead of Olympic title defence
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
5 things we learned from the first week of the 2024 Giro d’Italia
The Italian Grand Tour is firmly underway and Tadej Pogačar is in the pink jersey. Here are our takeaways from the first week of action
By Tom Thewlis Published