Criterium du Dauphine: Peter Kennaugh wins opening stage

Kennaugh anticipated a bunch sprint to win the opening stage in Albertville

British champion Peter Kennaugh took victory for Team Sky in the first stage of the Tour de France warm-up Criterium du Dauphine.

Kennaugh attacked a group of breakaway riders with two kilometres left and held off the speeding peloton.

The 25-year-old Manx rider prevailed after 131.5km between Ugine and Albertville to take the yellow jersey in the week-long event.

Stage favourites Sacha Modolo and Nacer Bouhanni finished second and third.

Kennaugh's Team Sky team-mate Chris Froome crossed the line in 16th.

Team leader Froome would have been satisfied staying out of trouble in the bunch sprints as he prepares his bid to reclaim the Tour de France title he won in 2013.

Spain's Alejandro Valverde, also expected to be among the challengers next month, finished among the chasing group behind Kennaugh.

The opening stage of the Tour de France is on 4 July in Utrecht.

Stage 1 result

1 Peter Kennaugh (GB/Team Sky) 3hrs 6mins 51secs

2 Sacha Modolo (Ita/Lampre) +2secs

3 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor/Team MTN) +2secs

4 Tiesj Benoot (Bel/Lotto) +2secs

5 Simon Gerrans (Aus/Orica) +2secs

6 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra/Cofidis) +2secs

7 Jay McCarthy (Aus/Tinkoff - Saxo) +2secs

8 Alejandro Valverde (Esp/Movistar) +2secs

9 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra/AG2R) +2secs

10 Cyril Gautier (Fra/Europcar) +2secs