NANNING, China, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen took the spoils in the opening stage of the 2018 Gree Tour of Guangxi in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 35 seconds on Tuesday.
The LottoNL-Jumbo rider outsprinted Germany's Max Walscheid of Team Sunweb and compatriot Fabio Jakobsen from Quick-Step Floors in a very competitive finale.
"It was a hectic sprint in a fast finale", Groenewegen said. "We took the control of the peloton and dictated the sprint, maybe a bit too early but we have very strong guys in the team. They put me in a good position and I got a free ride for sprinting. I went 200 meters before the line. There was a small cut. It was enough for me to stay ahead until the finish. We're really happy with the result."
After the opening stage, Groenewegen became the double winner of red and white jerseys, as the overall individual leader and the best young rider respectively, while Silvan Dillier of Team AG2R-La Mondiale took the blue and polka dot jerseys in the stage and was awarded the "most active rider".
"We have a young team, we're motivated for every race. Every day I want to win at the Tour of Guangxi. It's important, this is a WorldTour race." Groenewegen said, adding that the second stage is a level-road race and he hopes to win again.
The second stage of the 2018 Tour of Guangxi starts on Wednesday and runs from Beihai to Qinzhou.
