Nacer Bouhani of FDJ won the opening stage of the Criterium International in Corsica.
This year's race started and finished in Porto-Vecchio which last July played host to the Grand Depart of the 100th Tour De France.
Gougeard, Venturi, Vaubourzeix and Vimpere were the first to break away on this 89km stage and they had taken a lead of two minutes before being pulled back by the peloton after forty kilometres.
More attacks tried and failed and everyone was together for the sprint which saw IAM Cycling's Matt Brandle take the three seconds on offer ahead of Bob Jungels and Rosset.
Vanotti stormed off and was eight seconds clear with five kilometres remaining but was caught and Nacer Bouhani of FDJ was able to take the win ahead of Haas, Kump, Hurel, Simon, Brandle, Giraud, Fonseca, Alafaci and Berard ahead of this afternoon's time trial.