The British cyclist Mark Cavendish has taken the leader's pink jersey in the Giro d'Italia after finishing second in the second stage from Alba to Parma.
Alessandro Petacchi of the Lampre team just edged Cavendish in a battle for the finish line in the 244km stage, the longest of the 21-stage race.
Cavendish now holds a 12 second lead over his HTC-Highroad team-mates Kanstantsin Sivtsov and Craig Lewis.
Tonight's third stage is a 173km ride between Reggio Emilia and Rapallo.
