Ewan wins stage one of OVO Energy Tour of Britain

Ewan wins stage one of OVO Energy Tour of Britain

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Caleb Ewan won the opening stage of the 2017 OVO Energy Tour of Britain in a thrilling photo finish in Kelso.

The Australian - who won the final stage of the 2016 Tour of Britain in London - came out on top in a four-way battle for victory at the end of the 190km opening leg between Edinburgh and Kelso in the Scottish Borders.

The Orica-Scott rider outsprinted Edvald Boasson Hagen, Elia Viviani and Alexander Kristoff in a blanket finish across the first four riders.

Ewan said: “When I crossed the line I was pretty confident that I got it.

Erica-Scott's Caleb Ewan wins stage one of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain

“I know it was pretty close, but I thought I had got it. Then I saw all the cameras go around Eddy and I thought hang on a minute. When it is that close you just don’t know, and I saw Viviani as well round the outside. I was definitely happy to learn that I had won.

The stage win and time bonus gives Ewan a three-second lead over Boasson Hagen – who picked up one-second at the day’s final intermediate sprint in Melrose – with ONE Pro Cycling’s Karol Domagalski a further second behind.

The Pole had been part of an eight-rider break – surviving a brush with the Madison Genesis team car – before striking out with compatriot Lukasz Oswain as the break were reeled in.  The pair were caught at the foot of the final King of the Mountains climb of the Eildon Hills, but Domagalski had done enough to claim the Eisberg Sprints Jersey, with Oswain taking the SKODA King of the Mountains jersey after stage one.

Stage one of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain ran from Edinburgh to Kelso

Great Britain Cycling Team’s Chris Lawless was the best performing British rider of the day, finishing just behind the front runners in sixth place.

Stage two of the Tour of Britain heads to Northumberland, with live coverage on ITV4 from 10am. Highlights of stage one are on ITV4 at 10pm on Sunday evening.