Jesper Asselman of the Netherlands held on in a tight finish to win the opening stage of the Tour de Yorkshire from Doncaster to Selby on Thursday - for what he described as the biggest win of his career. Asselman headed a breakaway group which was out in front for most of the rainy and windswept stage - some of those riders were caught within metres of the line. The Dutchman won despite a Tour de Yorkshire flag becoming entangled on his handlebars metres from the finish.