Vincenzo Nibali attacks on the opening stage of the Tour of the Alps

Team Sky's Tao Geoghean Hart takes the opening stage as the Shark of Messina puts in a blistering attack ahead of the Giro d'Italia

The opening stage of the 5 day Tour of the Alps got under way today.

Bahrain Merida's Vincenzo Nibali lit up the stage on the second ascent of the climb of the Hinterthiersee with around 14 kms to go.

Only Rafal Majka (Bora-hansgrohe), Tao Geoghegan Hart (Team Sky) and Pavel Sivakov (Team Sky) could respond.

Behind Team Astana's Bilbao Lopez and Aranburu, along with Team Sky's Froome organized a chase, that eventually caught the four leaders in the final kilometres.

In the final sprint Team Sky's Tao Geoghean Hart beating Alexander Aranburu and Roland Thalmann.

Chris Froome and Vincenzo Nibali finished safely in the small group.

The stage saw a breakaway of four riders, three Austrian establish a breakaway which was caught on the first ascent of the Hinterthiersee.

Tomorrow's second stage from Reith im Alpbachtal to Scena/Schenna is the toughest stage and with a he long ascent to the Passo del Giovo/Jaufenpass and  a spectacular finale on the tough ramps of the Schlossweg in the last 500 metres.

VIDEO: 2019 Tour of the Alps Stage 1 Highlights

2019 Tour of the Alps Stage 1

1 Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Team Sky 3:30:48 
2 Alex Aranburu (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA   
3 Roland Thalmann (Swi) Team Vorarlberg Santic)   
4 Pello Bilbao (Spa) Astana Pro Team   
5 Nikita Stalnov (Kaz) Astana Pro Team   
6 Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky   
7 Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo   
8 Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe   
9 Giovanni Carboni (Ita) Bardiani CSF   
10 Dayer Quintana (Col) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM