Race favourite Tadej Pogačar made light of a mechanical problem and blasted into the lead of the Giro d'Italia, with victory on the summit finish to the 161-kilometre second stage on Sunday.
The Slovenian suffered a puncture at the foot of the steep 11km climb to Santuario di Oropa but he was helped back into the group by his teammates before launching a devastating solo attack.
No one could stay with the UAE Team Emirates rider who poured on the power to win by 27 seconds and take possession of the Maglia Rosa two days into his maiden Giro.
Dani Martinez (BORA-Hansgrohe) was second just ahead of Ineos Grenadiers leader Geraint Thomas.
Pogačar had already gained time on his GC rivals in Saturday's opening stage when he was outsprinted to the line by Jhonatan Narvaez who wore the Maglia Rosa on Sunday.
But by the end of stage two he already has a 45-second advantage over Britain's Thomas, who is regarded as the most likely challenger to Pogačar over the next three weeks.
Thomas and Martinez are second and third in the standings with only two other riders within a minute of Pogačar.
"I was only missing a Giro stage and this was one of my dreams," Pogačar, who now has stage wins in all three Grand Tours, told Eurosport.
"It's a big thing in cycling so I'm super happy."
Pogačar had stayed out of trouble during the stage which was led by young Italian rider Andrea Piccolo (EF Education–EasyPost) until six kilometres from the finish.
But there was a moment of alarm at the foot of the final climb as his front tyre deflated and he then slid to the ground and was narrowly avoided by a following car.
There was no damage, however, and he was quickly back into his rhythm and when he hit the accelerator on a 9 per cent gradient, there was only going to be one outcome.
"There is still all to play for but obviously Tadej… well he's Tadej," Thomas, who was runner-up last year, said.
The ABC of SPORT
Reuters