Hello and welcome to live coverage of stage 2 of the Giro d'Italia - a 221km rolling ride from Olbia to Tortoli on the island of Sardinia.

The Genne Silana pass is 19.6km long with an average gradient of 3.2% but that's a bit misleading because the road has already been going uphill for five odd kilometres. The gap is back up to two minutes for the escapees.

Daniel Teklehaimanot pips Ilia Koshevoy for the second intermediate sprint so that's another three bonus seconds for the Eritrean, who will hope to finish in the pack today and potentially put himself in the pink jersey...

We're onto the climb now - although it may not officially start until after the intermediate sprint in 5km. Already riders are being tailed off, including most notably Sam Bennett of Bora-Hansgrohe. We heard from our colleague Matt Stephens earlier that the Irishman was not feeling so well today, so that's no huge surprise for Bennett.

It's all strung out in the pack as the race crosses a wide river on a dramatically high bridge. The gap is down to 1:40 for the leaders as they approach the foot of the climb - and they could well struggle to hold on to the summit. Expect someone to make a move fairly soon.

How's Lukas Postlberger coping today? Here's a little indication...

On long, slow days like this, we're grateful - as are the riders - for a little bit of distraction from the crowds. Far from vintage, today's stage so far...

Cesare Benedetti, the king of the mountains from Bora-Hansgrohe, is still on the front of the pack - he's been there practically the entire stage, controlling the chase for the team of the pink jersey. The gap is down to 2:50. The sun is back out although there are grey clouds looming.

Andre Greipel is not the only sprinter to have had a few issues today: Trek Segafredo's Giacomo Nizzolo, the Italian national champion who has won the points classification for the past two years, has been near the back of the pack for a while. The pace is up on this flat schlep towards the start of the long Cat.2 Genna Silana climb with the gap now 3:03 for the five leaders.

Confirmation that it was Shalunov - and not Teklehaimanot - who took second place in the last Cat.3 climb, so he's actually not on 7 points but 5pts. It means that he can still take the maglia azzurra today - but so too can Shalunov and Andreetta.

After a swift bike change, Greipel is back with the peloton now. They're on another uncategorised climb and the pace has once again slowed to an almost standstill. The gap is 3:15 for the five leaders, who have been out since the sixth kilometre. A reminder of their names: Daniel Teklehaimanot (Dimension Data), Lukasz Owsian (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), Ilia Koshevoy (Wilier Triestina), Evgeny Shalunov (Gazprom - Rusvelo) and Simone Andreetta (Bardiani CSF).

Some riders have been tailed off by the pack - including that man Greipel, who is on the radio to his Lotto Soudal. He won't be too concerned now, but it goes to show how quickly things can change. It's a warning for the next climb, the descent of which will prove decisive for any of those sprinters who have managed to hold on while going up.

Lukas Postlberger, it's worth adding, has gone all pink today - with handlebars, socks, shorts and gloves all matching his pink jersey and helmet. The Austraian is currently chewing the fat with Italy's Valerio Agnoli of Bahrain-Merida. He'd never have dreamed the Grand Tour debut he has yesterday, surely? CORRECTION: His gloves are not pink, nor is the crotch area of his shorts... as you can see below...

Olive trees aplenty as the riders snake their way down this long descent and pass the 100km to go banner. The peloton is really strung out with Andre Greipel - in the number 100 jersey - quite far back, but seemingly unperturbed. 3:05 for the five leaders.

There are a few spots of rain on the lens as the five leaders continue this descent. There is loads of moisture in the air, it seems. The gap is 3:55 as Bora-Hansgrohe come back to lead the chase and protect the interests of the maglia rosa, Lukas Postlberger.

Team Sky, Movistar and Bahrain-Merida are all on the front as the pack crests the summit 4:21 down on the leaders - riding for their men Thomas/Landa, Quintana and Nibali respectively.

Attack: Koshevoy makes the first move from the break, the Belarus rider zipping clear and sparking a reaction from Owsian. It comes back together after some chasing by Teklehaimanot, until Andreetta puts in the decisive dig and takes the points over the summit. Teklehaimanot looks set on taking second place, but he could well have been pipped by Shalunov there after a late surge by the Russian. A reminder of the points spread for the Cat.3 climbs: 7, 4, 2, 1. So that puts Andreetta and Teklehaimanot level on 7 points - provided the Eritrean was in second place there. Still 2pts behind current leader, Benedetti.

Fans commemorating the late Michele Scarponi on the side of the road of this climb: the superhero, always with us. A nice touch.

The gap has ballooned to 4:45 for these five escapees, who still have 3km to ride until the summit of this gentle Cat.3 climb. Back in the pack, Bahrain-Merida, LottoNL-Jumbo and BMC have all come to the front just behind the Bora-Hansgrohe team of pink jersey Lukas Postlberger.

It's clouded over now that the riders are heading into the hills. In fact, there's a haze around that looks quite ominous. Teklehaimanot sets the tempo in the break but no one has made any moves yet. Expect the Eritrean to go all-in for maximum points over the summit - he's after the Maglia Azzurra which is currently being worn by Cesare Benedetti, the Bora-Hansgrohe rider who is on the front of the pack right now.

Owsain sets the pace on the climb with Koshevoy and then the Tickler on his wheel. But they're sharing out the work effectively and have seen their gap stabilise at 3:18.

The leaders are approaching that Cat.2 climb to Nuoro with Teklehaimanot - who looks to have been struggling with cramps - setting the tempo in pursuit of those KOM points.