Japan's Kazyuki Manabe broke away from the pack early and won a sprint finish Wednesday to take the first stage of the Tour of Taiwan.
Manabe, of Japan's national team, finished the 100km criterium in the southern hot spring resort town of Baolai in two hours, 34 minutes and 46 seconds, beating Iran's Ahad Kazemi Sarai of Giant Asia Racing in a photo finish.
Germany's Juergen Kottula of Merida Germany took third in 2:36.27.
Manabe and Kazemi Sarai joined a breakaway group opening a 45-second gap from the main pack during the first circuit of the five-lap race. By the fourth lap, the two riders had a two-minute lead on the chasing group on the hilly, curvy course that took cyclists past groves of mango trees and through lush mountain valleys.
"My plan was to escape early with a group of riders, but I was hoping to ride with a larger group of riders," said Manabe, who placed second in last month's Tour of China.
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