Lorena Wiebes of the Netherlands, left, won the opening stage today ©Getty Images

Lorena Wiebes of the Netherlands sprinted home to win the opening stage of the Tour of Chongming Island in China today.

Wiebes, riding for Parkhotel Valkenburg, got her nose in front of Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky, riding for Lotto Soudal, and compatriot Nina Kessler, representing Tiboc-Silicon Valley Bank.

All were timed at 2hr 29min 29sec.

The 102.7-kilometre stage in this International Cycling Union (UCI) Women’s World Tour race started and finished at the New City Park and covered the western half of Chongming Island.

Wiebes now holds the yellow jersey for the overall leader as well as the green points jersey and the white jersey for the best young rider.

Australia’s Shannon Malseed and Anastasiia Chursina of Russia, second and third overall behind last year’s winner Charlotte Becker – absent this year – finished and 82nd respectively.

The race continues tomorrow with stage two, 126.6 km from neighbouring Changxing Island to Chongming Island, again finishing at New City Park.

The sprinter-friendly event will conclude with a 118.4km stage.