Six riders formed the day’s break, with Davide Ballerini (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec) and Alan Marangoni (Nippo-Vini Fantini) claiming mountains points as the gap grew to more than five minutes.

It was kept well under control, however, and the race was back together before the final categorised climb of the day, the Montecatini Val di Cecina, which Movistar’s Andrey Amador led the peloton over.

Movistar continued to lead the way as they headed for the final nine kilometre (uncategorised) climb to Pomerance, with fluctuating gradients promising exciting racing.

Team Sunweb’s Tom Dumoulin attacked from the front of the bunch, but Thomas had time to relish his victory – the 15th pro win of his career, and first on Italian soil.

Dumoulin claimed second place, while world champion Peter Sagan led the bunch over the line in third place just ahead of Olympic champion and new race leader Greg van Avermaet.

Britain’s Adam Yates (Orica-Scott) to show he too is in good shape ahead of the Giro d’Italia, but it’s fellow Brit and Rio 2016 Olympic team-mate Thomas whom the headlines belong to overnight.

Tirreno-Adriatico 2017: stage two – result

1) Geraint Thomas (GBR) – Team Sky – 5.51.44hrs
2) Tom Dumoulin (NED) – Team Sunweb +9”
3) Peter Sagan (SVK) – Bora-hansgrohe – ST
4) Greg van Avermaet (BEL) – BMC Racing
5) Francesco Gavazzi (ITA) – Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec
6) Michal Kwiatkowski (POL) – Team Sky
7) Adam Yates (GBR) – Orica-Scott
8) Rohan Dennis (AUS) – BMC Racing
9) Nairo Quintana (COL) – Movistar
10) Simon Clarke (AUS) – Cannondale-Drapac

General classification

1) Greg van Avermaet (BEL) – BMC Racing – 6.15.14hrs
2) Rohan Dennis (AUS) – BMC Racing – ST
3) Tejay van Garderen (USA) – BMC Racing
4) Damiano Caruso (ITA) – BMC Racing
5) Niki Terpstra (NED) – QuickStep Floors +16”
6) Bob Jungels (LUX) – QuickStep Floors – ST
7) Nairo Quintana (COL) – Movistar +21”
8) Daniel Moreno (ESP) – Movistar – ST
9) Sebastien Reichenbach (SUI) – FDJ
10) Jonathan Castroviejo (ESP) – Movistar