Giro d'Italia: Elia Viviani sprints to victory on stage two

The stage win is 26-year-old Viviani's first in any of the sport's three Grand Tours

Italy's Elia Viviani won his first Giro d'Italia stage as Australia's Michael Matthew took the leader's jersey after day two of the three-week race.

Team Sky's Viviani beat Moreno Hofland of Lotto NL-Jumbo and Andre Greipel of Lotto Soudal in a sprint finish.

Matthews took the Maglia Rose from Orica GreenEdge team-mate Simon Gerrans after finishing seventh on the 177km stage from Albenga to Genova.

"I have to thank my team-mates for this magical feeling," said Matthew.

"It was team work on that got me where I am. It was special to wear the Maglia Rosa last year, and to wear it for the second time is even sweeter."

Viviani's victory is his first in a Grand Tour and he was also keen to praise the help of his team-mates Salvatore Puccio, Bernhard Eisel and Vasil Kiryienka.

"We're here to help Richie Porte in the general classification so I don't have many riders for the sprints," he said.

"But Puccio, Eisel and Kiryienka managed to do a perfect job for Richie and for me."

Australian Porte remains 27 seconds behind race leader Matthew.

Spain's Alberto Contador, who is trying to become the first man to win the Giro and Tour de France in the same year since Marco Pantani in 1998, is sixth, seven seconds adrift, while Colombia's Rigoberto Uran, runner-up for the past two years, is a further 12 seconds back.

There is no British rider in the race for the first time n 16 years.

Stage two result:

1. Elia Viviani, (Ita/Sky) 4 hours, 13 minutes, 18 seconds.

2. Moreno Hofland (Ned/Lotto NL-Jumbo) same time

3. Andre Greipel (Ger/Lotto Soudal)

4. Luka Mezgec (Slo/Giant-Alpecin)

5. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita/Southeast)

6. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita/Trek Factory Racing)

7. Michael Matthews (Aus/Orica GreenEdge)

8. Davide Appollonio (Ita/AG2R La Mondiale)

9. Daniele Colli (Ita/Nippo-Vini Fantini)

10. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita/Astana Pro Team)

General classification after stage two:

1. Michael Matthews (Aus/Orica GreenEdge) 4hrs, 32mins, 44secs

2. Simon Gerrans (Australia/Orica GreenEdge) Same time

3. Simon Clarke (Aus/Orica GreenEdge)

4. Esteban Chaves (Col/Orica GreenEdge)

5. Roman Kreuziger (Cze/Tinkoff-Saxo) +7secs

6. Alberto Contador (Spa/Tinkoff-Saxo)

7. Michael Rogers (Aus/Tinkoff-Saxo)

8. Manuele Boaro (Ita/Tinkoff-Saxo)

9. Ivan Rovnyi (Rus/Tinkoff-Saxo)

10. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita/Astana) +13secs