Guillermo Silva has become the first Uruguayan to wear the maglia rosa after winning a chaotic second stage of the Giro d’Italia. The 24-year-old rider from XDS-Astana stormed to victory in a frantic finish sparked by Jonas Vingegaard, also snatching the pink jersey from Paul Magnier.
Racing for the first time in the Giro, Silva produced a stunning sprint after being led out by teammate Christian Scaroni. He crossed the line ahead of Florian Stork and Giulio Ciccone, securing a historic double – stage win and overall lead. The result marks a milestone for Uruguayan cycling and reflects the growing global reach of the sport.
The second stage, from Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria, took place under heavy rain. A massive crash on a descent with less than five kilometers to go caused chaos, involving riders like Adam Yates, Santiago Buitrago, and Wilco Kelderman. The peloton was neutralized due to a lack of ambulances, then resumed with 18 km remaining.
On the final climb of the day, Jonas Vingegaard launched an attack, with only Giulio Pellizzari and Lennert Van Eetvelt able to follow. But the group was caught before the finish, setting the stage for Silva’s surprise sprint victory.
Silva’s achievement underscores the unpredictable nature of the Giro, which this year opened in Bulgaria for the first time. The race continues with Silva in pink, a historic first for Uruguay.