Giacomo Nizzolo of Trek Segefredo has won the opening stage of the Tour Of Croatia.
The race in its second year, started with a 230.4km stage from Osijek to Varaždin on a cloudy day with Mark Cavendish amongst the riders with five World Tour teams taking part.
Four riders in Kurbatov of RusVelo, Drinovec of Adria Mobil and Sagiv and Guilluame Bouvin of the UCI Continental team Cycling Academy, were 3.30 clear after fifty kilometres.
Bouvin, in the Canadian national jersey, got away to take the one point on the days KOM climb which was on a bridge and then with forty kilometres left, struck out on his own.
Bouvin was 2.30 ahead with sixteen kilometres to go but was only thirty seconds ahead as he crossed the finish line for the first time with a lap left.
The Canadian was caught with 3kms to go and Dimension Data and Tinkoff got their riders to the front.
Into the final left hand turn and Cavendish was in a good position but it was Giacomo Nizzolo of Trek Segefredo who took the win with Mark Cavendish in second place.
Nizzolo takes the leaders red and white jersey and the points jersey as well with the win.