UTRECHT, Netherlands, May 9, 2010 (AFP) – Australian Cadel Evans, a firm favorite for the Giro d’Italia title, took possession of the race leader’s pink jersey after Sunday’s second stage, won by American sprinter Tyler Farrar.

Evans, the reigning world champion, was third in the individual time-trial first stage won by Bradley Wiggins on Saturday and now sits one second ahead of Farrar in the overall standings.

Farrar, riding for the Garmin-Transitions team, recorded his first ever Giro stage win in the 209km run from Amsterdam to Utrecht that saw several falls.

In a sprint finish, the 25-year-old American saw off Australian Matthew Goss, Italian Fabio Sabatini and German Andre Greipel.

Germany’s Paul Voss led a breakaway from the first kilometer with three other riders that opened up the race until the last 25km.

Evans is in the ‘maglia rosa’ for the second time in his career, having briefly held the race lead in 2002 before finishing 14th overall.

“I think you need to be good from the start to the finish of any three-week Tour,” Evans said. “But also I’m the rider who lost the Tour de France by 23 seconds, so maybe I look at it differently than most riders do.”

Evans added that nerves among the riders had not helped a tough stage.

“Today was one of the most ridiculously dangerous and nervous stages I have ridden in my entire career,” he said.

“I don’t know why everyone was so nervous today. Maybe it’s a little bit of inexperience or something where you take a Grand Tour group and put it on these roads, which are a little bit more of the Classics guys’ environment.”

BMC team director John Lelangue said he did not expect Evans to have the race lead so soon in the 21-day race.

“But the most important point is taking time from other contenders,” Lelangue said. “We want to be in the first group every day and not to lose time and then come into the last 10 days in good position. That’s always the objective of the team.”

Riders will tackle a 224km run from Amsterdam to Middelburg for Monday’s third stage.

Cadel Evans Press Conference – CLICK HERE

RESULTS – STAGE 2
1. Tyler Farrar (USA/GRM) 4hr 56min 46sec,
2. Matthew Goss (AUS/THR) same time,
3. Fabio Sabatini (ITA/LIQ) s.t.,
4. Andre Greipel (GER/THR) s.t.,
5. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/LAM) s.t.,
6. Chris Sutton (AUS/SKY) s.t.,
7. Robbie McEwen (AUS/KAT) s.t.,
8. Graeme Brown (AUS/RAB) s.t.,
9. Julian Dean (NZL/GRM) s.t.,
10. Sacha Modolo (ITA/COG) s.t.
11. Anthony Ravard (FRA/ALM) s.t.,
12. Michele Merlo (ITA/FOT) s.t.,
13. Robert Forster (GER/MRM) s.t.,
14. Wouter Weylandt (BEL/QST) s.t.,
15. Sebastian Lang (GER/OLO) at 3sec,
16. Leonardo Duque (COL/COF) s.t.,
17. Danilo Wyss (SUI/BMC) s.t.,
18. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) s.t.,
19. Baden Cooke (AUS/SAX) s.t.,
20. Sebastien Hinault (FRA/ALM) s.t.

Selected
25. David Millar (GBR/GRM) s.t.
31. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ/AST) s.t.
42. Ivan Basso (ITA/LIQ) s.t.
79. Bradley Wiggins (GBR/SKY) at 0:37
115. Carlos Sastre (ESP/CTT) s.t.
119. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) s.t.

OVERALL RESULTS
1. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) 5 h 07:09.
2. Tyler Farrar (USA/GRM) à 0:01.
3. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ/AST) 0:03.
4. Richie Porte (AUS/SAX) 0:03.
5. David Millar (GBR/GRM) 0:04.
6. Jos van Emden (NED/RAB) 0:07.
7. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/LIQ) 0:08.
8. Tom Stamsnijder (NED/RAB) 0:09.
9. Marcel Sieberg (GER/THR) 0:10.
10. Matthew Goss (AUS/THR) 0:13.
11. Michael Morkov (DEN/SAX) 0:13.
12. Andre Greipel (GER/THR) 0:13.
13. Linus Gerdemann (GER/MRM) 0:15.
14. Stefano Garzelli (ITA/ASA) 0:18.
15. Pieter Weening (NED/RAB) 0:19.
16. Michele Scarponi (ITA/AND) 0:19.
17. Mauricio Ardila (COL/RAB) 0:20.
18. Vladimir Karpets (RUS/KAT) 0:20.
19. Baden Cooke (AUS/SAX) 0:21.
20. Ivan Basso (ITA/LIQ) 0:21.