Cannondale's Peter Sagan added to his Prologue victory by winning the first stage of the Tour Of Alberta.
The first break of the day started after 38kms of the 158.1km stage from Strathcona County to Camrose.
Simon Genske took the first sprint before New Zealander Jeremy Vennell became the first to attack with Marc Goos of Belkin, Jeremy Powers of Jelly Belly & Will Clarke of Argos Shimano bridging to the Bissell rider.
Their lead stayed around the two minute mark until 45 kilometres to go, when the peloton which included race leader Peter Sagan who took yesterday's Prologue of a race which cost six million Canadian Dollars to put on, closed it to 1.50 and then 1.30 with 34kms to go.
Clarke took the second sprint on a super fast day as the gap dropped again to 1.05.
With 12kms to go and the gap was now just forty five seconds to the four up front. Clarke tried to get away but with five kilometres to go.
Ryder Hesjedal sprinted away and celebrated over the line but looked back and realised that he had another lap to go and his victory celebrations were a tad premature.
Optium were on the front followed by peter Sagan who coasted to his 21st victory of the season and his second successive in this unaugural race in a time of 3.22.17 ahead of Eric Young and Moreno Hofland.