The stage was marked by an early breakaway featuring Slovenia's Gašper Katrašnik (Adria Mobil), the Czech rider Vojtech Hačecky (Elkov Author) and the afore mentioned Hill.
While the trio was caught by the peloton about 12 kilometres before the finish line, Hill secured a few sprint bonus seconds before that, which gave him the overall lead.
It was a sprinters' affair in the end, with Groenewegen seemingly coming out of nowhere to clinch victory ahead of Italian Matteo Pelucchi (Bora Hansgrohe) who was already second on Wednesday and is the current leader of the sprint classification.
One of the main favourites, Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) was brought in position well by Slovenia's Luka Mezgec but the Brit finished six after having to dismount his bicycle for a moment due to technical problems 14 km before the finish.
The best Slovenia rider was Rok Korošec (My Bike - Stevens) in ninth place. He already finished eight in the first stage.
Friday's 175.7 km stage from Slovenske Konjice to Celje will be the first real test for the cyclists. It will feature climbs to the hills around Celje, thus also providing opportunities for one of the world's best riders this spring, Primož Roglič of Slovenia, who has kept a low profile in the race so far.
* Results of the 2nd stage: 1 Dylan Groenewegen (NED/LottoNL-Jumbo) 3:35:43 2 Matteo Pelucchi (ITA/Bora-Hansgrohe) 3 Caleb Ewan (AUS/Mitchelton-Scott) 4 Simone Consonni (ITA/UAE Emirates) 5 Manuel Belletti (ITA/Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec) 6 Mark Cavendish (GBR/Dimension Data) 7 Dušan Rajović (SRB/Adria Mobil) 8 Damiano Cima (ITA/Nippo Vinni Fantini Europa Ovini) 9 Rok Korošec (SLO/My Bike-Stevens) 10 Paolo Toto (ITA/Sangemini MG.Kvis) ... 14 Borut Božič (SLO/Bahrain Merida) 15 Luka Mezgec (SLO/Mitchelton - Scott) 16 Marko Kump (SLO/CCC Sprandi Polkowice) 20 Žiga Jerman (SLO/Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum) all same time - standings after two out of five stages 1 Benjamin Hill (AUS/Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum) 7:07:33 2 Matteo Pelucchi (ITA/Bora-Hansgrohe) + 0:03 3 Simone Consonni (ITA/UAE Emirates) 0:05 4 Dylan Groenewegen (NED/LottoNL-Jumbo) 0:05 5 Gašper Katrašnik (SLO/Adria Mobil) 0:07 6 Jon Božič (SLO/Adria Mobil) 0:08 7 Caleb Ewan (AUS/Mitchelton-Scott) 0:11 8 Juraj Bellan (SK/Dukla Banska Bystrica) 0:13 9 Rok Korošec (SLO/My Bike-Stevens) 0:15 10 Luka Mezgec (SLO/Mitchelton-Scott) 0:15 ... 20 Matej Mohorič (SLO/Bahrain-Merida) 27 Žiga Ručigaj (SLO/Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum) 31 Jure Golčer (SLO/Adria Mobil) all same time
