Team Sky's Chris Sutton has won the Japan Cup Criterium in Utsonomiya.
The Australian beat Garmin-Sharp's Steele Van Hoff in a photo finish with British rider Ben Swift of Team Sky in third place.
Speaking to Team Sky's website after his victory, Sutton said: “I couldn’t be happier,” Sutton told teamsky.com after the race. “It was so quick at the start, but probably after five laps, when the cobwebs had gone from the legs, I actually felt pretty comfortable.
“It was the best lead-out I’ve ever had. I just finished it off and it was really nice to get a win. You know it’s a good lead-out when your lead-out man can still finish on the podium.”
The big race of the weekend - the Japan Cup Cycle Race rakes place on Sunday.