Belgium's Tim Merlier won the second stage of Tirreno-Adriatico ©Getty Images

Belgium's Tim Merlier won the second stage of Tirreno-Adriatico after Slovakia’s three-times world road race champion Peter Sagan failed to maintain momentum after leading out the bunch sprint at the end of a 219km route from Camaiore to Sovicille.

Merlier, riding for Alpecin-Fenix, finished in 5hr 25min 23sec ahead of Jumbo-Visma's Olav Kooij and Kaden Groves of BikeExchange as Sagan, representing  TotalEnergies, sagged at the line to fourth.

The general classification in this International Cycling Union (UCI) World Tour event remained in the hands of Filippo Ganna of Ineos Grenadiers, winner of the previous day’s time trial.

Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, riding for the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl team, is 11 seconds further back in second place.

Slovenia’s two-time Tour de France winner and defending champion Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates, who won the Strade Bianche on Saturday, remained third, reducing his gap to the leader by one second to 17seconds after earning a time bonus at the intermediate sprint.

The seven-stage race in Italy, due to conclude on Sunday (March 13), continues tomorrow with a third stage of 170 kilometres (110 miles) from Murlo to Terni.