Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Fenix) has won Stage 2 of the 104th Giro d’Italia, 179km from Stupinigi (Nichelino) to Novara. Giacomo Nizzolo (Team Qhubeka Assos) and Elia Viviani (Cofidis) finished second and third, respectively.
Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) retains the Maglia Rosa and leads the general classification. Maglia Rosa Filippo Ganna came first at the intermediate sprint (km 154.7 – Vercelli), followed by Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck – Quick-Step). The two received 3’’ and 2’’ of time bonuses respectively.
STAGE RESULTS
1 – Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Fenix) – 179km in 04h21’09”, average speed 41.126 km/h
2 – Giacomo Nizzolo (Team Qhubeka Assos) s.t.
3 – Elia Viviani (Cofidis) s.t.
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)
2 – Edoardo Affini (Jumbo-Visma) at 13″
3 – Tobias Foss (Jumbo-Visma) at 16″
JERSEYS
- Maglia Rosa (pink), general classification leader, sponsored by Enel – Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)
- Maglia Ciclamino (cyclamen), sprinter classification leader, sponsored by Segafredo Zanetti – Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Fenix)
- Maglia Azzurra (blue), King of the Mountains classification leader, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Vincenzo Albanese (Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team)
- Maglia Bianca (white), young rider general classification leader, sponsored by Intimissimi Uomo – Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)
Speaking seconds after the stage finish, the stage winner Tim Merlier said: “I’m very happy with this victory in my first sprint at a Grand Tour. I knew it was important to be well-positioned at the last roundabout. When I came out of it I only thought of going faster and faster afterwards. I went from far out, at about 250 metres. I still had enough to finish it off. My preparation at altitude has been good. I was confident before tackling the Giro.”
The Maglia Rosa, Filippo Ganna, said: “I did the time bonus sprint just to take the bonification away from the others, thinking of the coming days if Egan (Bernal) or Pavel (Sivakov) are fighting for the Maglia Rosa. I saw Remco (Evenepoel) was trying to go for it too. But Gianni (Moscon) and myself did a good job. I enjoyed hearing the crowd of Piedmont yelling my name today. We know tomorrow is a perfect stage for Peter Sagan.”
