Spain's Oscar Freire of the Rabobank team has won the opening stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico.

The three-times world road race champion beat Italy's Alessandro Petacchi and Spain's Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil in a sprint finish on the first day of the week-long race.

Australia's Robbie McEwen won the same stage in last year's race with a late attack in the chicane 300 metres from the finish.

McEwen was first through the two corners again this year but did not manage to open up a gap and Freire accelerated past him to win.

"I felt good during the stage. I knew it was going to be difficult, especially at the end, but I had a good position going into the last corner," said the 32-year-old Freire, who won the race in 2005.

"Last year McEwen surprised us and got a gap but this time we were ready for him and the sprint went perfectly for me."

"I went a bit early because McEwen was still out front but I knew I had to take a risk if I wanted to win. Petacchi was close but I just had enough speed to get to the line first."

The 161-km stage was characterised by a long breakaway by Russia's Mikhail Ignatiev and Ukraine's Yuriy Krivtsov.

They opened up a seven-minute lead but were caught four kms from the finish after a determined chase by the Milram, Diquigiovanni and High Road teams.

Freire, who has now won eight stages of the Tirreno-Adriatico during his 11-year career, will wear the race leader's blue jersey during Thursday's 203-km second stage from Civitavecchia to Gubbio.

Reuters