Primož Roglič finished second in stage 2 time trial of the Giro d'Italia around Tirana to claim the overall leader's pink jersey, reaffirming his position as the top favourite to win the race.

The Slovenian Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe rider tackled the mostly flat, 13.7 km stage around the Albanian capital just a second behind the winner Brit Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers), a time-trial specialist.

In a repeat of the feat of his compatriot Tadej Pogačar a year ago, Roglič took the maglia rosa in stage 2, snatching it away from stage 1 winner Dane Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek).

The 35-year-old Slovenian is now one second ahead in the general classification.

"It's always nice to wear pink jersey, everyone wants it. Even though I knew I was well prepared, it's a nice surprise for me. I had good legs, I enjoyed it," Roglič said after the race, adding that his goal was to come out victorious in Rome.

His teammate Jan Tratnik finished the stage in 11th with a gap of 18 seconds, only a second behind Spaniard Juan Ayuso (UAE Emirates), seen as Roglič's main rival for the overall victory.

Australia's Jaye Vine (UAE Emirates) came in third, 3 seconds adrift.

Before moving to Italy, the riders face another stage in Albania, starting and finishing in Flora, with two climbs on the 160-kilometre route.

Roglič expects Pedersen will want the pink jersey back tomorrow as stage 3 suits him.

He now leads a strong Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe squad into the three-week race, which will conclude in Rome on 1 June. It will cross into Slovenia in stage 14 on 24 May to finish in Nova Gorica, the European Capital of Culture this year with Italy's Gorizia.

Roglič and Pogačar have won an impressive nine Grand Tour victories between them. Roglič has chalked up four Vuelta a Espana titles plus the 2023 Giro win, while Pogačar has triumphed three times at the Tour de France and also claimed last year's Giro. He is not racing the Giro this year but will compete in the Vuelta.