The Bora–Hansgrohe rider, appearing in the race for the first time, moved away from the peloton in the closing kilometre of the 206km route from Alghero to Olbia, denying the sprinters an early victory.

The Grand Tour began in sombre fashion as cyclists and fans held a one minute silence in memory of Michele Scarponi, who was killed during a training ride on April 22.

Scarponi, winner of the race in 2011, had been due to lead Astana team this year.

The race also began without Italian riders Nicola Ruffoni and Stefano Pirazzi, with the Bardiani CSF cyclists having been notified of failed out-of-competition drug tests yesterday.

A six-man breakaway would get proceedings underway, with Bardiani’s Mirco Maestri joining fellow Italian Cesare Benedetti, Poland’s Marcin Bialoblocki, Pavel Brutt of Russia, Eritrea’s Daniel Teklehaimanot and Albania’s Eugert Zhupa in the move.

The group’s advantage would peak at over seven minutes during the early kilometres of the race, but their lead was cut during the day’s three categorised climbs.

Their efforts would ultimately prove futile as the sprinters’ teams reduced the gap to 30sec heading into the closing 10km of the stage, before swiftly bringing the race back together.

The sprinters would also be left disappointed, with Pöstlberger surprisingly pulling away to secure the stage victory in a time of 5 hours, 15min and 35sec, becoming only the second Austrian to lead a Grand Tour in the process.

“It's a surprise,” said Pöstlberger, who also became the first cyclist from his nation to earn a Giro d’Italia stage win.

“I knew my shape was good.

“We wanted to try to lead Sam Bennett out but he lost my wheel and when I saw a gap, I decided to try myself.

“I gave all I had and It worked out.

“This is my first professional win and I get the Maglia Rosa.

“It will take me a long time to believe this.”

Australia’s Caleb Ewan sprinted to second place, with the majority of the main field awarded the same time as the winner.

Germany’s André Greipel and Italy’s Giacomo Nizzolo will also view the stage as an opportunity missed, with the pair having come third and fourth respectively.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour race will continue tomorrow with a 226km race from Olbia to Tortolì.

The UCI Women’s WorldTour resumed with the first stage of the three-day Tour of Chongming Island in China.

Kirsten Wild won the 118km stage in Chongming Xin Cheng Park, with the Dutch edging defending champion Chloe Hosking of Australia to the line.