André Greipel stormed to victory in the city of Newport, at the end of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain’s opening stage across South Wales from Pembrey Country Park in Carmarthenshire to Newport.

He said: "It was really tough with the final climb coming with seven kilometres to go. We knew that we needed the numbers to pull back the break, as we expected that they’d go crazy up the climb."

A six-rider break had swept up most of the day’s honours with Nicholas Dlamnini (Team Dimension Data) taking the SKODA King of the Mountains jersey and Matthew Bostock (Great Britain) the Eisberg Sprints Jersey. As the race rolled through Carmarthenshire, Powys and Monmouthshire it was Rory Townsend (Canyon Eisberg) who was the last to be caught approaching the final SKODA King of the Mountains climb at Belmont Hill on the edge of Newport, with under 10 kilometres remaining.

Ethan Hayter finished as the highest placed Great Britain Cycling Team rider in 7th position after the first day.

Tomorrow's stage sees the riders take on a more mountainous course from Cranbrook to Barnstaple in Devon.