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Ewan takes Tour of Britain opening stage

Orica-Scott rider Caleb Ewan made the most of a solid team performance to take victory in a closely-fought first stage of the Tour of Britain.

Caleb Ewan
Caleb Ewan has made a dream start to the Tour of Britain with victory on the opening stage. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Australia's Caleb Ewan has clinched a narrow victory on stage one of the Tour of Britain, edging out Edvald Boasson Hagen and Elia Viviani in a photo-finish in Kelso.

The 188km ride from Edinburgh was decided in the final few metres as Orica-Scott's Ewan, given the perfect lead-out on the cobbles, just got his wheel in front.

Team Dimension Data's Norwegian Boasson Hagen took second place ahead of Team Sky's Viviani.

Eight riders had formed an early escape, putting three minutes between themselves and the peloton.

Poles Karol Domagalski and Lukasz Owsian were the last of the leaders to stay ahead but they were reeled in on the final climb of the day, after which it was all about the sprinters.

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"When I crossed the line I was pretty confident that I got it," Ewan told the Tour's website. "I know it was pretty close, but I thought I had got it.

"Then I saw all the cameras go around Eddy and I thought hang on a minute. When it is that close you just don't know, and I saw Viviani as well round the outside. I was definitely happy to learn that I had won."

Monday's 211km stage begins in the Kielder Forest in Northumberland and heads towards the east coast of England, finishing at Blyth.


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