The LottoNL-Jumbo rider claimed his fourth win of the year and continued the good form he showed by winning stage four of the Tour of Britain earlier this month.

It came at the end of a 184 kilometres stage which was always destined to be a battle for the sprinters.

Indeed, the stage was billed by many as a warm-up for next month's spinter-friendly World Championships in Doha.

Crashes affected the peloton as teams jostled for position in the final kilometres, with Team Sky rider Geraint Thomas among those affected.

A desperate breakaway was caught with three kilometres remaining, before Groenewegen pounced early-on in the long sprint for home.

He held-on despite fierce pressure to win in exactly 4hours 14min.

France's Nacer Bouhanni crossed second while Slovakia's Peter Sagan was third just one day after he claimed the inaugural European title over the French border in Plumelec.

Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen was fourth, a place ahead of fellow countryman Alexander Kristoff.

German sprinting star Marcel Kittel could only manage ninth.

The second stage of the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour race tomorrow consists of a 9.6km time trial route in Breda.