Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) has donned the first yellow jersey of the 35th Tour Méditerranéen after winning the first stage, a 120km run between La Crau and Hyères.

The 30-year-old Norwegian, winner of the green jersey in the 2005 Tour de France, outsprinted Italian Liquigas teammates Francesco Chicchi and Alberto Curtolo to take the victory.

A pair of 21-year-old Frenchmen — Maxime Bouet (Agritubel) and Anthony Roux (Française des Jeux) — took an early flyer at just 7km in, building a lead of eight and a half minutes before Liquigas and Crédit Agricole began driving the chase.

The daring escape was retrieved just 3.5 km from the finish.

On Thursday, the 120 riders tackle a 135km leg between La Londe and La Garde.