Giro d'Italia: Simon Yates takes surprise win on stage two time-trial

Simon Yates has won the opening time-trial of the Giro d'Italia, with an impressive and surprising performance to take the win on the second stage of the race for Team BikeExchange - Jayco. Mathieu van der Poel rode to second place and kept the race lead.

The 9.2 kilometer individual time-trial had the possibility of creating small gaps between the GC favourites, however the technical aspect of the time-trial and the final hilltop in the Budapest historic center led the GC riders to fight for the stage win itself, with Yates succeeding in the end.

The likes of Alex Dowsett and Edoardo Affini set strong early times that had them in contention for the win, however once the riders at the top of the overall classification started to depart, the times have lowered. Matteo Sobrero, Tom Dumoulin and finally Simon Yates swarmed the first places on the stage, with the Briton eventually setting a time that could not further be beaten.

Yates sustained the best time throughout the course, with race leader Mathieu van der Poel arriving in second place and securing the pink jersey. Tom Dumoulin finished in third place.