Maiden victory for Ackermann

CYCLING B or a-Hans grohe’s Pascal Ackermann held off Elia Viviani to collect his first Giro d’italia stage win in Fucecchio yesterday.

The 205km second stage fromBo log na came down to as print finish in which the German national champion, pictured, making his Giro debut this year, had the power to hold off Italy’s national champion.

Australian Caleb Ewan of Lotto-soudal came in third behind the Deceun in ckQuick Step rider, Vi via ni, with UAE Team Emirates’ Fernando Gaviria fourth. The bunch finish meant there was no change at the top of the general classification, in which Team Jumbo- Vis ma’s P rim oz Roglic holds the pink jersey with a 19-second advantage over Mitchelton-scott’s Simon Yates.

Two-time Giro winner Vincenzo Nibali of Bahrain-merida is a further four seconds behind the Lancastrian in third place