Cycling - Greipel rains on Thomas's Welsh parade

Cycling - Tour de France cycling race - The 113-km (70,4 miles) Stage 21 from Chantilly to Paris, France - 24/07/2016 - Lotto Soudal rider Andre Greipel of Germany (R) wins on the finish line. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier Picture Supplied by Action Images

LONDON (Reuters) - Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas's hopes of winning the opening stage of the Tour of Britain in front of his home fans in Wales were dashed as German veteran Andre Greipel sprinted to victory on Sunday.

The 36-year-old Greipel chased down Australia's Caleb Ewan to cross the line first at Pembrey Country Park after a 175km stage which also included Thomas's Sky team mate Chris Froome.

Thomas finished safely in the peloton after finding the pace too hot on the final climb.

Cycling - Tour de France cycling race - The 113-km (70,4 miles) Stage 21 from Chantilly to Paris, France - 24/07/2016 - Lotto Soudal rider Andre Greipel of Germany wins on the finish line. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier Picture Supplied by Action Images

"I had to give it a go, being on home roads and so close to where I grew up. I knew the climb but once I went I was thinking: 'What have I done?'," said Thomas, who is to have Newport's velodrome named after him.

"It was nice to have a dig but I don't have the legs to finish it off."

It was Greipel's sixth stage win in the Tour of Britain.

Cycling - Tour de France cycling race - The 113-km (70,4 miles) Stage 21 from Chantilly to Paris, France - 24/07/2016 - Lotto Soudal rider Andre Greipel of Germany wins on the finish line. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier Picture Supplied by Action Images

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)