Team Sky – who won the race last year with then British champion Pete Kennaugh – were among the teams looking to animate the race early on, and again on the Challambra climb.

Their efforts could not prevent a large group heading to the finish line together, however, with Luke Rowe and Sergio Henao in the front split – Froome was in the second group, just behind.

And Rowe admitted he was frustrated to have finished fifth after racing ‘full gas’, with Team Sunweb’s Nikias Arndt sprinting to victory ahead of Australians Simon Gerrans (Orica-Scott) and Cameron Meyer (Korda Mentha-Australia).

Froome, meanwhile, will now turn his attention to defending the Herald Sun Tour title he won 12 months ago, with he and Rowe among eight Brits on the startline.

Team-mate Ian Stannard also rides for Team Sky, while JLT-Condor’s seven-rider line-up includes Bay Crits winner Ian Bibby and Steve Lampier, who finished sixth overall at the New Zealand Cycle Classic.

Ed Bradbury, James Gullen and Ali Slater will also ride for JLT-Condor, while their former Irish rider Conor Dunne is in Aqua Blue Sport’s line-up.

Froome’s biggest rival for overall honours looks set to be Johan Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott), however, as the two go wheel-to-wheel in a stage race for the first time since finishing second and third at last year’s Vuelta a Espana.

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race 2017: result

1) Nikias Arndt (GER) – Team Sunweb – 4.19.15hrs
2) Simon Gerrans (AUS) – Orica-Scott – ST
3) Cameron Meyer (AUS) – Korda Mentha Real Estate Australia
4) Jhonatan Restrepo (COL) – Katusha-Alpecin
5) Luke Rowe (GBR) – Team Sky
6) Petr Vakoc (CZE) – QuickStep Floors
7) Nathan Haas (AUS) – Dimension Data
8) Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) – QuickStep Floors
9) Jay McCarthy (AUS) – Bora-hansgrohe
10) Paul Martens (GER) – LottoNL-Jumbo
Selected others
29) James Shaw (GBR) – Lotto-Soudal +37”
49) Chris Froome (GBR) – Team Sky +43”