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Gree-Tour of Guangxi 2019, stage one – full results and standings: Fernando Gaviria sprints into first leader's jersey

Fernando Gaviria (left) dips for the line to win the opening stage at the Tour of Guangxi - 2019 Getty Images
Fernando Gaviria (left) dips for the line to win the opening stage at the Tour of Guangxi - 2019 Getty Images

Fernando Gaviria won the opening stage at the Tour of Guangxi on Thursday as the Colombian took the overall lead in the final WorldTour race of the season.

The UAE Team Emirates sprinter beat Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton-Scott) at the end of the 135.6km stage in Beihai to claim his fifth win of what has been a disappointing season for the 25-year-old.

After abandoning the Giro d'Italia, where he was handed a stage win following Elia Viviani's relegation following a dangerous sprint, Gaviria was forced to miss the Tour de France due to injury. Despite returning to action at last month's Vuelta a España, Gaviria failed to add to his palmarés.

On Gaviria's only previous appearance at the Tour of Guangxi – in 2017 – he won four stages.

The Gree-Tour of Guangxi continues on Friday with the 152.3km stage from Beihai to Qinzhou and concludes next Tuesday with the final day of racing in this year's WorldTour.