Team Sky got their home race Tour of Britain off to a strong start. Bradley Wiggins led the peloton in the finale to stay safe while Ben Swift sprinted to a fine fifth in a fast bunch kick that didn't suit him well.

Ben Swift claimed fifth place on the opening stage at the Tour of Britain while Bradley Wiggins narrowly avoided a late crash involving Ian Stannard.

The first test of the race ended in a bunch kick on the streets of Liverpool and it was Marcel Kittel who emerged from a scrappy sprint with victory.

The German (Giant-Shimano) timed his effort in the closing metres to shut down the early sprint of Adam Blythe (NFTO) and edge out Nicola Ruffoni (Bardiani-CSF) and Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) at the line.

Stannard helped move Swift into position inside the final kilometre but came down in a crash which split the bunch. Nursing a cut to his elbow he was able to return to the bus under his own steam before being checked over by the team.

Courtesy of bonus seconds, Kittel now moves into a one-second lead over Sonny Colbrelli, who took a handful of bonifications during a day in the break.

Wiggins sits 10 seconds back after finishing safely in the bunch. The defending race champion hit the front as the break was caught with 3.5km to go, but had to veer to avoid the late pile-up.

"It was a good day," said Swift at the finish. "We rode together perfectly as a unit and we were all there at the front. It was a pretty tough opener. It was a hard little circuit with lots of bumps, potholes and ups and downs.

"It got pretty fast at the end but I just stayed with Stannard all day. I sat on his wheel and he guided me to the front with under a kilometre to go and we slotted in perfect. It was just shame to see he crashed at the finish.

"It’s another big day tomorrow and there’s obviously a key stage on The Tumble on Tuesday. We just need to keep on doing what we’re doing and take it day by day."