Lars Petter Nordhaug timed his sprint perfectly to beat out Thomas Voeckler and Stephane Rossetto on Scarborough seafront to become the first person to wear the Tour de Yorkshire's leader's jersey.
A five-man game of cat and mouse played out in the last five kilometres, as Nordhaug, Voeckler (Europcar) Rossetto (Cofidis), Samuel Sanchez (BMC), Philip Deignan (Sky) stifled each others' attacks.
Nordhaug made the first move with five kilometres to go, dashing up the road with Sanchez and Voeckler eventually catching up. Deignan and Rossetto looked to be out of contention, but it was not long before they regrouped.
>>> Where to watch the Tour de Yorkshire
Deignan immediately launched an attack of his own, but again Voeckler did well to stifle it. As the group got back together again it was Nordhaug who once more put the hammer down, but his nemesis from Europcar was again stuck to his wheel.
With five riders contesting the sprint, Rossetto was the first to open up the gas, but the Frenchman went too soon, overtaken by his compatriot, Voeckler, and Nordhaug just before the line.
>>> Tour de Yorkshire 2015 route: Stage by stage
The peloton was fragmented early in the race as the wet weather made cornering treacherous. Indeed a number of riders were forced to abandon after crashing on a steep, wet descent.
Pre-race favourite Ben Swift was among those forced to withdraw, while NFTO's Eddie Dunbar, the youngest rider in the race at 18, broke his clavicle in the accident.
Marcel Kittel was the first rider to step off his bike; the German obviously still feeling the effects of the illness he has suffered since the start of the season.
Tour de Yorkshire stage one: Bridlington to Scarborough (174km)
1. Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Team Sky, 4:22:28
2. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Europcar, st
3. Stephane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, st
4. Samuel Sanchez (Esp) BMC, st
5. Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Sky, st
6. Anthony Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, at 1m08
7. Greg van Avermaet (Bel) BMC, at 1m10
8. Erick Rowsell (Gbr) Madison-Genesis, st
9. Richard Handley (Gbr) JLT-Condor, st
10. Huub Duyn (Ned) Roompot Oranje Peloton, st
General Classification
1. Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Team Sky, 4:22:28
2. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Europcar, at 4sec
3. Stephane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, at 6sec
4. Samuel Sanchez (Esp) BMC, at 10sec
5. Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Sky, st
6. Anthony Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, at 1m18
7. Greg van Avermaet (Bel) BMC, at 1m20
8. Erick Rowsell (Gbr) Madison-Genesis, st
9. Richard Handley (Gbr) JLT-Condor, st
10. Huub Duyn (Ned) Roompot Oranje Peloton, st
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