Hello and welcome to live coverage of stage 2 of the Giro d'Italia - a 167km ride from Haifa to Tel Aviv in Israel. There's an inland loop before the peloton hits the coast for a potentially windy ride south towards what we expect will be the first bunch sprint of the race.

Giro d'Italia

Stage 2 | Flat | Men | 05.05.2018

Completed

HaifaTel Aviv

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Live Updates

ByThe Editorial Team

Updated 05/05/2018 at 15:07 GMT

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Highlights

16:07

Finally, a reminder that we have a new race leader: after picking up some vital bonus seconds at the second intermediate sprint, Rohan Dennis (BMC) took the maglia rosa from the shoulders of Sunweb's Tom Dumoulin, who he now leads by one second on GC.

16:06

And here's how Viviani did it...

16:05

Confirmation of today's top 10 - and Danny van Poppel (LottoNL-Jumbo) was nowhere to be seen...

16:02

So, victory for Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) with Jakub Mareczko (Wilier-Triestina) in second and Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) third. Niccolo Bonifazio (Bahrain Merida) and Sacha Modolo (EF Education First) complete the top five.

16:00

That's Viviani's second career win in the Giro - and with it he will take the maglia ciclamino...

0km

VICTORY FOR ELIA VIVIANI! He left it late but the Italian managed to round Mareczko and then power home to win by the barriers by a couple of bike lengths in the end.

0.2km

Modolo and Van Poppel in the best position and they open it up. Mareczko then powers through with Viviani - finally - on his wheel...

1km

Viviani still quite far back as they pass under the banner...

2km

A lone Lotto-Fix All rider zips clear - it's Tosh van der Sande. He opens up a gap, almost crashes out on a tight bend, and then is reeled in...

2.5km

Viviani is quite badly placed and needs to sort out his positioning soon or it will be too late.

3km

Now it's Jose Goncalves of Katusha who comes to the front - they're pinging riders off like there's no tomorrow. He's caught and EF Education First take it up.

4km

The pace has slowed and the peloton strung out after a series of tight bends. Tony Martin has opened up a small gap but is pegged back by one of the LottoNL-Jumbo boys. Behind EF-Education First have grouped - they're there for Sacha Modolo and Tom Van Asbroeck.

5km

William Bonnet comes to the front for Groupama-FDJ. It's each man for himself now - utter chaos, and the locals are out in their droves.

6km

Double mechanical for Sky: Poels and Elissonde need to change bikes at the worst possible moment.

7km

Now LottoNL-Jumbo come up to the front alongside Bora. It's incredibly hectic right now. Katusha are there for Baptiste Planckaert, too.

8km

LottoNL-Jumbo are all over the place - they're easy to spot in their yellow jerseys. Danny van Poppel has been in good form this year - could he spring a surprise?

10km

10km to go now for the riders - and there's almost a big crash when Cesare Benedetti of Bora touches wheels and needs to correct himself right on the front of the pack.

11km

Quick-Step beginning to group together and bring up their man. The Wolfpack have notched 27 wins this season and Viviani is favourite to make it 28.

12km

Vasil Kiryienka is rising such tempo that he goes clear after a tight bend, then looks behind him and shakes his head - as if disgusted that no one can hold his wheel.

14km

Now Team Sky come to the front alongside Astana and Sunweb. Lotto-Fix All are getting in the mix too, as are Bora-Hansgrohe.

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