UPDATE 1-Cycling-Ackermann wins Giro stage two, Roglic retains overall lead

German champion Pascal Ackermann made a dream Giro d'Italia debut when he timed his sprint to perfection to win the second stage, a 205-km ride from Bologna on Sunday.

The Bora-Hansgrohe rider just avoided a rider crashing in front of him during the finale before outsprinting Italian champion Elia Viviani and Australian Caled Ewan. Slovenian Primoz Roglic retained the overall leader's pink jersey after remaining in the peloton throughout a rainy day after the race left Emilia-Romagna for Tuscany.

"It was our first chance to win a stage and we did it straight," Ackermann, who is making his grand tour debut, told reporters. "We were super-motivated. It bodes well for the rest of the Giro."

Monday's third stage will take the peloton over 220km from Vincio to Orbetello. (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Toby Davis and Tony Lawrence)