Wiggins lasted only 24 hours in the pink jersey of the Giro d'Italia leader

Bradley Wiggins lost the lead in the Giro d'Italia after a series of crashes marred the second stage on Sunday.

Wiggins had recovered from an earlier crash to be in the peloton approaching the finish in Utrecht, Netherlands.

But a major accident seven kilometres from the line split the field and Wiggins finished in the second group over 30 seconds behind the leaders.

American Tyler Farrar won the stage to move second in the overall standings behind new leader Cadel Evans.

Briton David Millar finished in the leading group of riders and is now fifth overall, four seconds behind Evans.

"I am so happy," said Farrar. "It's beautiful. My goal was to win a stage. I have done that. Now I will try to win another stage."

Farrar also crashed during the stage before recovering and now lies one second behind pink jersey holder Evans.

"It was one of the most ridiculously dangerous races I have encountered in my career," said Evans. "I don't know why everyone was so nervous."

Australian Matt Goss was second for HTC Colombia, with Liquigas rider Fabio Sabatini third.

A three-man breakaway by Paul Voss of Milram, Rick Flens of Rabobank and Colnago CSF Inox's Stefano Pirazzi opened up a six-minute lead at one point, but they were reeled in as the peloton entered Utrecht after a 209km (130-mile) ride from Amsterdam.

Sky led the chase through Steve Cummings and the English time-trialler produced a powerful shift to hunt down the leading trio.

But a huge crash seven kilometres out, which included Cummings and 2009 Italian road race champion Filippo Pozzato, divided the field and left Wiggins adrift of the leaders.

Liquigas kept the pace high at the front and Wiggins was unable to cut the deficit, ending his reign in the pink jersey after only 24 hours.

Giro d'Italia second stage:
1. Tyler Farrar (USA/GRM) 4hr 56min 46sec
2. Matthew Goss (AUS/THR) same time
3. Fabio Sabatini (ITA/LIQ)
4. Andre Greipel (GER/THR)
5. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/LAM)
6. Chris Sutton (AUS/SKY)
7. Robbie McEwen (AUS/KAT)
8. Graeme Brown (AUS/RAB)
9. Julian Dean (NZL/GRM)
10. Sacha Modolo (ITA/COG)

Selected others:
25. David Millar (GBR/GRM) same time
31. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ/AST)
79 Bradley Wiggins (GBR/SKY) at 37secs

Overall standings:
1. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) 5hr 07min 09sec
2. Tyler Farrar (USA/GRM) at 1sec
3. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ/AST) same time
4. Richie Porte (AUS/SAX) same time
5. David Millar (GBR/GRM) 4secs
6. Jos van Emden (NED/RAB) 7secs
7. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/LIQ) 8secs
8. Tom Stamsnijder (NED/RAB) 9secs
9. Marcel Sieberg (GER/THR) 10secs
10. Matthew Goss (AUS/THR) 13secs

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