The Trek classics team around Fabian Cancellara is making its return to competition in this week's Bayern Rundfahrt. The team got safely through a wet and dangerous first stage, with a small crash for Yaroslav Popovych being the only mishap.

The 204.6-kilometer first stage of the Bayern Rundfahrt ended in a mass sprint after three men who had been out front all day were caught in the final kilometers. Heinrich Haussler (IAM Cycling) won the bunch kick, and also donned the first yellow leader’s jersey of the five-day tour.

It was a soggy return for Fabian Cancellara, Stijn Devolder, Gregory Rast, Yaroslav Popovych and Haydon Roulston, after an extended break from racing following a tough and successful Classics season. Joining them for the five-day event are Kristof Vandewalle, who recently won the Belgium National Time Trial championships, and Jens Voigt, fresh off the Amgen Tour of California.

“The race was 205 kilometers, all in the rain - it never stopped," sports director Alain Gallopin said. "There was nothing special for us today except that Popo [Yaroslav Popovych] crashed near the finish.

"The Classics’ guys have come back after a long break and it will take them a little time to find the racing legs again. Kristof is still having some health problems that he got in the Classics, and so we shall have to see about him for this week. The doctor will have a look at Popo, but he did finish, and should be okay for tomorrow.”

All seven of Trek Factory Racing finished in the main peloton, all with the same time as Haussler. Tomorrow’s second stage should result in significant changes to the GC with a summit finish that includes a maximum gradient of 19%.