Paul Magnier took the biggest victory of his young career as he emerged from a crash-marred finale to the opening stage of the Giro d'Italia to take the pink jersey, with Great Britain's Ethan Vernon coming in third.
Magnier, the 22-year-old Frenchman, was one of only 11 riders who were able to contest the sprint after avoiding a huge crash that blocked the narrow road with 650 metres remaining of the 147km stage from Nessbar to Burgas in Bulgaria.
Magnier got a lead-out from his Soudal-QuickStep team-mate Jasper Stuyven before coming around Tobias Lund Anderson, who finished second ahead of Vernon and the pre-stage favourite Jonathan Milan.
"I'm so proud about the team and also my performance," said Magnier. "I'm very happy to be at the start of the Giro with a nice shape and now I can change into the pink jersey.
"It was really hectic in the final because it was a pretty easy day, everyone was pretty fresh. We were in a good position. We knew the narrow road in the final would be tricky. Jasper and Dries (Van Gestel) did a nice job and I could finish it off so I'm super proud."
Ireland's Ryan Mullen (NSN Cycling Team) was 33rd, having been halted in that massive crash near the end, with Darren Rafferty (EF Education-Easypost) crossing the line in 58th.
The nature of the final sprint was defiend by the crash, which began when Uno-X rider Erlend Blikra clipped a wheel and fell to his left.
Dylan Groenewegen and Kaden Groves, among the top sprinters in the race, suffered heavy falls, with Groenewegen coming home gingerly with what appeared to be a wrist injury.
None of the main general classification hopes appeared to be impacted, however, with no time losses given the crash occurred inside the final five kilometres.
