Giro 2014: Marcel Kittel takes his 1st Giro stage

Stage 2 on the Giro 2014 is a 219 kilomeres spin to the north of Northern Ireland, starting and finishing in Belfast. The rain soaked stage ends in a bunch sprint and topfavorite Marcel Kittel is by far the best. Michael Matthews is the new man in the pink jersey due to bonification. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage Giro 2014

1. Marcel Kittel (Germany) .
2. Nacer Bouhanni (France) s.t.
3. Giocomo Nizzolo (Italy) s.t.
4. Elia Viviani (Italy) s.t.
5. Roberto Ferrari (Italy) s.t.
6. Manuel Belletti (Italy) s.t.
7. Ben Swift (gbr) s.t.
8. Michael Matthews (Australia) s.t.
9. Davide Appollonio (Italy) s.t.
10. Tyler Farrar (USA) s.t.

GC after stage 2
1. Michael Matthews (Australia)
2. Luke Durbridge (Australia) + 0.03
3. Ivan Santaromita (Italy) s.t.
4. Svein Tuft(Canada) s.t.
5. Pieter Weening (The Netherlands) s.t.
6. Cameron Meyer (Australia) s.t.
7. Rigoberto Urán (Colombia) + 0.08
8. Gianluca Brambilla (Italy) s.t.
9. Pieter Serry (Belgium) s.t.
10. Alessandro Petacchi (Italy) s.t.

Race report
A break away with Tjallingii, Fedi, Armee and Romero hits it off after 3 kilometres. With 10 kilometres done the gap is 3 minutes and it keeps growing until at kilometre 43 the maximum gain is reached: 7'23". With 105 kilometres left it's down to 5'35" minutes, so the break away is controlled by the bunch.

With 33 kilometres to go the gap is down to 2'09".

Maarten Tjallingii decides to give it a go at 8 kilometres, the bunch is half a minute behind. But the solo doesn't last and it's up to the sprinters.

Marcel Kittel powers to the win before Nacer Bouhanni and Giocomo Nizzolo.