German rider David Kopp outsprinted Ryan Cox and Tiaan Kannemeyer, both of the powerful Barloworld outfit, to claim the stage win in the gruelling 190km first stage of the Giro del Capo cycle race that finished in Durbanville on Wednesday.

Knopp marked the on-form SA pair when they made their break going into the third lap of the Vissershok climb and that was the crucial break to set the stage for the remainder of the tour. With a lead of more than 4 minutes Cox and Kannemeyer are favourites for the overall honours.

Martin Mortensen of Denmark was the most aggressive rider of the day when he attacked after 10km and rode solo in heavy crosswinds for 105km - that took in two laps up Vissershok - before succumbing to the furious pace and being swallowed up by the pursuing bunch.

It was then that Cox, Kannemeyer and Kopp got away with 80km to go and they showed the chasing peloton a clean pair of pedals back to Durbanville.