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Elia Viviani powers through to win second stage of Giro d'Italia in Tel Aviv

Elia Viviani of Italy wins the second stage of the Giro d'Italia Tim de Waele/Getty Images

Italian cyclist Elia Viviani came from the back of the pack to win the second stage of the Giro d'Italia on Saturday.

The 29-year-old powered from around 25th place to the front with only 100m to go during the race from Haifa to Tel Aviv, in Israel, beating Jakub Mareczko across the line.

The victory was his first ever second stage win at the Giro d'Italia.

However, it will be BMC Racing's Rohan Dennis, from Australia, who will wear the pink jersey on Sunday having claimed three bonus seconds in an intermediate sprint earlier on during the event.

After the race, Dennis told the BBC: "The team rode for me in the 30km before the intermediate sprint and delivered me perfectly.

"It was the result of massive teamwork. I think Viviani sprinted but didn't go full gas so it was good to see him get the stage win after, not exactly gifting me the intermediate sprint, but he was kind, let's be honest."

Dennis will take the overall lead ahead of Dutch rider Tom Dumoulin, the 27-year-old defending champion.

Britain's Chris Froome finished in the peloton while Ireland's Sam Bennett finished third.

The route through Tel Aviv had been described as "chaotic" by pundits with a number of 90 degree corners -- including one in the final kilometre.