Etixx Quick Step's Marcel Kittel has won the opening stage of the Third Dubai Tour.
There were some big names who took to the start of this opening 173km stage from Dubai Marine Club to Fujairah.
Sir Bradley Wiggins was up the road early on but it was four and then six riders in Mortensen of British team One Pro Cycling, Planet, Soler, Haddi, Vliegen & Arribas who got away early.
The six had opened up a lead of 4.30 and which was at 3.45 with 44kms left to ride on pan flat roads after Haddi had taken the first intermediate sprint
Close to the border with Oman, the gap dropped below three minutes and heading for the first of three 5.6km laps around Fujairah by the Indian Ocean, the gap was at 1.13.
When the gap fell below a minute, that was the cue for the six out front to start attacking each other.
Haddi took the second intermediate sprint to give himself six points and put himself in the sprint jersey.
The break was caught seconds after the sprint with ten kilometres remaining.
Movistar and Mark Cavendish's Dimension Data team were on the front as the peloton started on the bell lap.
With 3.8kms, Phillipe Gilbert of BMC put in an attack but his raid last only half a kilometre. Ben Swift, Andy Fenn and Elia Viviani of Team Sky came to join the fun on the front as did Fabian Cancellera.
Etixx Quick Step went under the flam rouge with Cavendish backed by Mark Renshaw but it was Marcel KIttel of Etixx Quick Step who went early and strongly and won in a time of 3.35.21 ahead of Mark Cavendish.. Giacmomo Nizzolo, Modolo, Palini, Guardini and British rider Chris Opie of One Pro.
Kittel leads the race and gets the Blue Jersey with a four second lead over Mark Cavendish and said: "I'm incredibly happy with this win and my new team. The boys did very well and we have to stay calm for the next few days.
"We had really good timings and I hope it stays like this and we will enjoy the win.
"This is a new start with everything for 2016 starting at zero, I feel really good already and am really happy that it worked so good on the first day."