Cannondale's Elia Viviani won the opening stage of the 2013 Tour Of Britain.
One hundred and fourteen riders from nineteen teams started on the 209.9km stage from Peebles to Drumlanrig Castle.
It was a stage which saw the race pass through Selkirk, Hawick, Newcastleton, Gretna, Annan and Dumfries before arriving at Drumlanrig Castle for the first time before a 17-kilometre circuit.
House of Rapha Condor, JLT Laborie (Sojasun), Gate (An Post Chain Reaction ) Hawkins & Greanwood (IG SIGMA) broke early taking a lead of 5.30.
Peter Hawkins took the first King Of The Mountains climb at Black Castle Hill, which was a category three climb.
Laborie won the first sprint at Hawick and Gate took the second at Newcastleton as the five riders had a lead of 1.44 with 87.8kms to go on a wet day.
On the third climb of the day, Delaplace got clear of the peloton and the five escapers and took the points on the Dunrose climb.
Anthony Delaplace of Sojasun had a ninety second lead going into the final 25 kilometres and as the sun came out
Delaplace, who was awarded the day's combativity prize, took the three points on the final sprint which heralded the final lap around Drumlanrig Castle with Team Sky's Sir Bradley Wiggins taking third place.
Movistar moved to the front with Alex Dowsett whilst at the back of the peloton, there was a crash with Mark Christian of the Raleigh Team one of those affected.
Under the flam rouge and this was anybody's stage. Mark Cavendish lost his lead out men and followed Ciolek who went first but it was Elia Viviani of Cannondale who took the victory in 6.04.43 just as there was another massive crash just behind him which delayed most of the peloton.
Second was Alessandro Petacchi of Omega Pharma Quick-Step and third was Gerald Ciolek of MTN Qhubeka.
Viviani said about his victory: "I think it was a strong finish. The legs after six hours on the bike were very, very tired."
Points Standings
1 Elia Viviani Cannondale 15
2 Alessandro Petacchi Omega Pharma Quick-Step 14
3 Gerald Ciolek MTN Qhubeka 13
King of the Mountains
1 Kristian House Rapha Condor JLT 12
2 Peter Hawkins Team IG Sigma Sport 9
3 Aaron Gate AN Post Chain Reaction 6
Sprint Standings
1 Aaron Gate AN Post Chain Reaction 7
2 Christophe Laborie Sojasun 7
3 Anthony Delaplace Sojasun 5
Young Rider Standings
1 Jonathan Dibben** Great Britain 6h 4' 43''
2 Owain Doull** Great Britain st
3 Simon Yates** Great Britain st
Team Standings
1 AN Post Chain Reaction 18h 14' 9''
2 Omega Pharma Quick-Step 18h 14' 9''
3 Great Britain 18h 14' 9''