Irish cyclist Nicolas Roche (Crédit Agricole) won the first stage of the Tour du Limousin on Tuesday.

Roche, 24, powered along the country roads between Limoges and Guéret to win the 166km stage in four hours, four minutes, beating the field to the line by three seconds.

France's Steve Chainel (Auber 93) and Roche’s teammate Sébastien Hinault came second and third.