May 05, 2018 (Tel Aviv, Israel) – Elia Viviani (Ita) Quick-Step Floors won Stage 2 from Haifa to Tel Aviv, 167km, as Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team took over the race lead and the maglia rosa. Canada’s Guillaume Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy) rode with heart spending the day out in front, first with an early break of three riders and then on his own.

The day rolled out from Haifa, a flat parcours which featured a small fourth-category climb whose sole purpose was to see the blue jersey awarded at the end of the day. After a frantic start, Guillaume Bovin (Israel Cycling Academy), Lars Bak (Lotto-FixAll), and Davide Ballerini (Androni-Sidermec) established a 3:30-lead.

But BMC pushed the pace and they were almost caught be for the KOM climb at 91km. Boivin attacked but Enrico Barbin (Bardiani-CSF) went around him with 100m to go and crossed the top first.

“We wanted to try and get into an early break,” said Boivin. “We were aiming to capture the KOM jersey today. It wasn’t supposed to me out there but it just worked out that I was in the best position to go when the early break got away. We were suprised to see the pack so close when we hit the climb. BMC was trying to position Dennis for bonus points in the sprint that followed the KOM climb. To be honest it was heartbreaking when I was passed but that’s bike racing.”

The brave Canuck struck out on this own again and put a minute and a half between himself and the pack, prompting a reaction from Grand Tour debutant Rémi Cavagna, who took over the front of the bunch and began chewing into his advantage. The catch was made with ten kilometers to go, and just as the teams began fighting for position.

“Breaks like this don’t often work but I rode with heart as we wanted to show our thanks to the fans and everyone who helped make this start in Israel happen, especially during the first three stages here. The crowds have been amazing and if anyone doubted the cycling culture here they know it’s alive and well. I’m happy to be a part of this special start to the Giro and we’ll keep trying,” said Boivin.

The hectic and chaotic finish saw every rider on their own. Viviani, 29, jumped on the wheel of Jakub Mareczko (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia and took the inside line to claim his seventh victory since the start of the season.

“The guys did an amazing job and I want to say a big thanks for that! Rémi took the responsibility on his shoulders and closed the breakaway, Styby brought us to the front, then Florian took over with two kilometers to go, before Michael and Saba dropped me in the closing kilometer. It was chaotic because of all those corners and roundabouts, but we can be proud of ourselves,” said Viviani.

Dennis won the only intermediate sprint that awarded a time bonus to dethrone Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb and he leads the Giro by one second. “The plan was to just play it by ear initially. We knew that the second sprint was the one with bonus time and we thought that if it was within grasp, and the breakaway wasn’t too far away, we would try. About 40km or 50km from the sprint, they asked me if I wanted to do and I said not really but we did it anyway and I thought that I can’t not put 100% into it. The team delivered me exactly where I needed to be for the sprint and all I had to do was go as hard as I could and there was no way I couldn’t win it. Then after that, it was about making sure I didn’t lose time in the splits in the final. It was massive teamwork.”

“It’s a special feeling to have the Maglia Rosa. Yesterday was a bit disappointing but the team backed me today and the team did everything possible to put me into pink. It’s a great jersey and it’s a real honor to be the leader of a Grand Tour and for our team, we wanted to do it for Andy Rihs. He put a lot into our team and we wanted to give back to him and to do this for him and his family is a real pleasure for us. We will keep it as long as possible but I think for me it is more about learning still. I’m sure at some stage it will be taken away from me but I will keep fighting all the way to Rome. When I first started cycling, I never thought that I would wear all Grand Tour leaders’ jerseys. I saw guys do things like this and I always thought that was really amazing so to be a part of that little group is a real honor,” added Dennis.

Results here.