Onley and Vauquelin take time on opening stage

A late attack on the run to the finish saw Kevin Vauquelin and Oscar Onley take some key early seconds on the opening stage of Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes.

With lone escapee Alex Baudin (EF Education - Easypost) out front solo, an acceleration from Vauquelin with six kilometres to go helped drag clear a group of 10 contenders behind.

Quickly joined by Onley, the pair would finish ninth and 10th respectively at the finish in Saint-Ismier, 12 seconds ahead of the next chasing group.

The peloton had already been thinned out significantly across a short, sharp day of climbing. Carlos Rodriguez was also present in the GC group of the top of the day's final climb, the Cote de Rousset, and finished in the second group alongside the likes of Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM). 

Much of the stage was a battle of positioning in the bunch over a barrage of climbs and descents, with more climbing on the menu for Monday's second stage.