Norwegian sprint star Thor Hushovd easily won the opening stage of the Tour Méditerranéen in a mass sprint to claim the race's first yellow leader's jersey.

The Crédit Agricole rider and 2006 Tour de France green jersey beat out Liquigas riders Francesco Chicchi and Alberto Curtolo to take the opening stage win after 120 kilometres of racing from La Crau to Hyères.

Maxime Bouet (Agritubel) and Anthony Roux (Française des Jeux) went off on an early break away building up a lead of more than eight minutes before the two main sprint teams closed the gap.

The French duo were caught just 3.5-km from the finish line setting up the sprint finale.

Thursday's second stage takes the peloton 135-km from La Londe to La Garde.

Eurosport