Roglic in pink after Giro d'Italia Stage 1

Bologna - Slovenian Primoz Roglic won the first stage of the Giro d'Italia on Saturday, pulling on the leader's pink jersey after an eight kilometre individual time-trial in Bologna.

Roglic, riding for the Jumbo-Visma team, finished 19 seconds ahead of Britain's Simon Yates of Mitchelton-Scott in a race with an uphill finish to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, overlooking Bologna in northeast Italy.

Italy's former two-time winner Vincenzo Nibali of Bahrain-Merida was third fastest at 23 seconds with Dutch rider Tom Dumoulin, the 2017 champion, just behind at 28 seconds along with Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez.

Spaniard Mikel Landa of Movistar trailed more than a minute behind his rivals.

Roglic opted to start in the first hour with the threat of bad weather looming with only Yates sticking with tradition and going off among the favourites later.

The weather remained dry even if the wind got stronger as the hours went by.

Roglic took the advantage on the flat around Bologna, to build up an 11-second lead on Dumoulin at intermediate stage.

He continued to widen the gap on the climb up to San Luca, over 2.1km with a 9.7 percent gradient.

For the 29-year-old Slovenian, a former ski jumper, it was the 30th victory of his career, and eighth in a time trial.

This season, he won the three stage races the UAE Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico and Tour de Romandie, as he warmed up for his second appearance in the three-week Italian race.

Sunday's second stage covers 205km between Bologna and Fucecchio, finishing in the Tuscany hills, which should benefit the punchers.

Results and overall standings after the opening stage of the Giro d'Italia on Saturday, an 8km individual time-trial around Bologna:

Stage 1

1. Primoz Roglic (SLO/Jumbo) 12min 54sec., 2. Simon Yates (GBR/MIT) at 19sec., 3. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/BAH) 23., 4. Miguel Angel Lopez (COL/AST) 28., 5. Tom Dumoulin (NED/SUN) same time., 6. Rafal Majka (POL/BOR) 33., 7. Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBR/INE) 35., 8. Laurens De Plus (BEL/JUM) same time, 9. Bauke Mollema (NED/TRE) 39., 10. Damiano Caruso (ITA/BAH) 40.