BRUSSELS – Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland retained the race leader’s yellow jersey after the crash-marred Tour de France first stage won in spectacular fashion by Alessandro Petacchi of Lampre on Sunday.

Italian sprinter Petacchi, making his first appearance at the race in more than five years, upset predictions when he finished a reduced bunch sprint ahead of Australian Mark Renshaw and Norwegian Thor Hushovd.

Numerous crashes occurred in the closing kilometers of the 223.5km ride from Rotterdam to Brussels, leaving some of the top favorites for stage victory out of the running.

Spanish fast man Oscar Freire, of Rabobank, was brought down along with Cervelo’s Jeremy Hunt when the Briton took a wrong turn on a tight bend with two kilometers to go.

Another massive crash with just a kilometer to go reduced the peloton further.

British sprint king Mark Cavendish, the winner of six stages last year, was among the big names also left out of contention, leaving his lead-out man Renshaw to go it alone.

After the carnage, Petacchi produced a thrill when he tried to shake his followers by pulling sharply to the left side of the road.

Seconds later he came over the finish line in victory, and later refused to accept it was devalued by the relative lack of quality in the final bunch.

“It wasn’t unexpected for me. I’m here to sprint and win stages, and to do my best and that’s what I did,” said the Italian, who last appeared on the race in 2004 when he pulled out before the sixth stage.

“Of course Cavendish and I are sure to sprint against each other, but even if he hadn’t been caught up in a crash who’s to say I wouldn’t have won. I think I did a great sprint.”

Freire, a three-time world champion who is dangerous on almost any terrain, said the bad luck he suffered was just part of bike racing on the Tour.

“I was in a very good position, but the finish was quite dangerous,” said the Spaniard.

“But that’s bike racing, especially at the Tour. I was on Petacchi’s wheel when I fell, but in the Tour it’s always the best riders who win.”

Cancellara took the yellow jersey on Saturday when he won the race’s opening prologue over 8.9km in Rotterdam.

But the Olympic time trial champion paid his own price for staying up at the front of a chaotic and “nervous” bunch in his bid to keep hold of the race lead for as long as possible.

The Saxo Bank man had to brake hard to avoid a fallen rider, but still hit the asphalt.

“At the end I couldn’t do anything. I had to brake hard, and ended up doing a bit of a somersault once I landed,” said Cancellara, who admitted he was slowly starting to feel the pain of his tumble.

“Now with the time passing I feel like my shoulder and my whole left side are hurting.”

Because the first half of the stage was held along the North Sea coast, some teams were expected to use the strong coastal winds to race hard in a bid to break up the peloton and put time into their rivals.

That failed to materialise, as a three-man break consisting of Dutchman Lars Boom, Belgian Maarten Wynants and Spaniard Alan Perez went on an early breakaway which came to an end in the final 25km.

In the end, the “millions” of people lining the roads from Rotterdam to Brussels seemed to play more of a factor than the wind.

Cancellara added: “The wind was never really that significant a factor. I think some teams were expecting that to play a big role, and that only served to make a lot of guys nervous.

“But the roads were just madness with the amount of people. It was like that from the start. With that, the wind, a lot of turns and quite a bit of nervousness in the peloton I think maybe some guys lost their concentration.”

Results of the first stage of the Tour de France, a 223.5km ride from Rotterdam to Brussels, on Sunday:

1. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/LAM) 5h09min 38sec
(average: 43.3 km/h)
2. Mark Renshaw (AUS/THR) at 0:00.
3. Thor Hushovd (NOR/CTT) 0:00.
4. Robbie McEwen (AUS/KAT) 0:00.
5. Matthieu Ladagnous (FRA/FDJ) 0:00.
6. Daniel Oss (ITA/LIQ) 0:00.
7. Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP/GCE) 0:00.
8. Christian Knees (GER/MRM) 0:00.
9. Ruben Perez (ESP/EUS) 0:00.
10. Jürgen Roelandts (BEL/OLO) 0:00.
11. Sébastien Turgot (FRA/BTL) 0:00.
12. Linus Gerdemann (GER/MRM) 0:00.
13. Julien El Farès (FRA/COF) 0:00.
14. Luke Roberts (AUS/MRM) 0:00.
15. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) 0:00.
16. Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR/THR) 0:00.
17. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/QST) 0:00.
18. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) 0:00.
19. Carlos Barredo (ESP/QST) 0:00.
20. Michael Barry (CAN/SKY) 0:00.
21. Samuel Dumoulin (FRA/COF) 0:00.
22. Sébastien Minard (FRA/COF) 0:00.
23. Kevin De Weert (BEL/QST) 0:00.
24. Johannes Fröhlinger (GER/MRM) 0:00.
25. Eduard Vorganov (RUS/KAT) 0:00.
26. Brett Lancaster (AUS/CTT) 0:00.
27. Jakob Diemer Fuglsang (DEN/SAX) 0:00.
28. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) 0:00.
29. Stéphane Auge (FRA/COF) 0:00.
30. Martin Elmiger (SWI/ALM) 0:00.
31. Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP/SKY) 0:00.
32. Danilo Hondo (GER/LAM) 0:00.
33. Christophe Le Mevel (FRA/FDJ) 0:00.
34. Jérôme Pineau (FRA/QST) 0:00.
35. Yukiya Arashiro (JPN/BTL) 0:00.
36. Alexandre Kolobnev (RUS/KAT) 0:00.
37. Mickael Delage (FRA/OLO) 0:00.
38. Alessandro Ballan (ITA/BMC) 0:00.
39. Bernhard Eisel (AUT/THR) 0:00.
40. Robert Hunter (RSA/GRM) 0:00.
41. Julian Dean (NZL/GRM) 0:00.
42. Christophe Kern (FRA/COF) 0:00.
43. Kevin Seeldraeyers (BEL/QST) 0:00.
44. Mauro Da Dalto (ITA/LAM) 0:00.
45. Andriy Grivko (UKR/AST) 0:00.
46. Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ/AST) 0:00.
47. Thomas Lovkvist (SWE/SKY) 0:00.
48. Alberto Contador (ESP/AST) 0:00.
49. Roger Kluge (GER/MRM) 0:00.
50. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL/OLO) 0:00.
51. Maxime Monfort (BEL/THR) 0:00.
52. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/LIQ) 0:00.
53. Kristjan Koren (SLO/LIQ) 0:00.
54. Simon Spilak (SLO/LAM) 0:00.
55. Lance Armstrong (USA/RSH) 0:00.
56. George Hincapie (USA/BMC) 0:00.
57. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR/RSH) 0:00.
58. Vasil Kiryienka (BLR/GCE) 0:00.
59. Grega Bole (SLO/LAM) 0:00.
60. Bert Grabsch (GER/THR) 0:00.
61. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/GCE) 0:00.
62. David Millar (GBR/GRM) 0:00.
63. Francesco Gavazzi (ITA/LAM) 0:00.
64. Francis de Greef (BEL/OLO) 0:00.
65. Sebastian Lang (GER/OLO) 0:00.
66. Aliaksandr Kuschynski (BLR/LIQ) 0:00.
67. Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL/KAT) 0:00.
68. Grischa Niermann (GER/RAB) 0:00.
69. Pierre Rolland (FRA/BTL) 0:00.
70. Robert Gesink (NED/RAB) 0:00.
71. Wesley Sulzberger (AUS/FDJ) 0:00.
72. Daniel Lloyd (ENG/CTT) 0:00.
73. Benjamin Noval (ESP/AST) 0:00.
74. Inaki Isasi (ESP/EUS) 0:00.
75. Ivan Gutierrez (ESP/GCE) 0:00.
76. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/EUS) 0:00.
77. Daniel Moreno (ESP/OLO) 0:00.
78. Sandy Casar (FRA/FDJ) 0:00.
79. Simon Gerrans (AUS/SKY) 0:00.
80. Brent Bookwalter (USA/BMC) 0:00.
81. Bradley Wiggins (GBR/SKY) 0:00.
82. Serge Pauwels (BEL/SKY) 0:00.
83. Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA/ALM) 0:00.
84. Christophe Riblon (FRA/ALM) 0:00.
85. Fabio Felline (ITA/FOT) 0:00.
86. Thomas Rohregger (AUT/MRM) 0:00.
87. Christophe Moreau (FRA/GCE) 0:00.
88. Rubén Plaza (ESP/GCE) 0:00.
89. Rui Costa (POR/GCE) 0:00.
90. Vladimir Karpets (RUS/KAT) 0:00.
91. Ivan Basso (ITA/LIQ) 0:00.
92. Manuel Quinziato (ITA/LIQ) 0:00.
93. Rein Taaramae (EST/COF) 0:00.
94. Cyril Gautier (FRA/BTL) 0:00.
95. Damien Monier (FRA/COF) 0:00.
96. Mathieu Sprick (FRA/BTL) 0:00.
97. Anthony Geslin (FRA/FDJ) 0:00.
98. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA/BTL) 0:00.
99. Volodomir Gustov (UKR/CTT) 0:00.
100. Anthony Charteau (FRA/BTL) 0:00.
101. Nicki Sörensen (DEN/SAX) 0:00.
102. Iban Velasco (ESP/EUS) 0:00.
103. John Gadret (FRA/ALM) 0:00.
104. Maxim Iglinskiy (KAZ/AST) 0:00.
105. Benoît Vaugrenard (FRA/FDJ) 0:00.
106. Mario Aerts (BEL/OLO) 0:00.
107. Adriano Malori (ITA/LAM) 0:00.
108. Denis Menchov (RUS/RAB) 0:00.
109. José Alberto Benítez (ESP/FOT) 0:00.
110. Koos Moerenhout (NED/RAB) 0:00.
111. Johan Van Summeren (BEL/GRM) 0:00.
112. Juan Manuel Garate (ESP/RAB) 0:00.
113. Mauro Santambrogio (ITA/BMC) 0:00.
114. Stuart O’Grady (AUS/SAX) 0:00.
115. Arkaitz Duran (ESP/FOT) 0:00.
116. Sylvester Szmyd (POL/LIQ) 0:00.
117. Andy Schleck (LUX/SAX) 0:00.
118. Matti Breschel (DEN/SAX) 0:00.
119. Frank Schleck (LUX/SAX) 0:00.
120. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 0:00.
121. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/GRM) 0:00.
122. Gorka Verdugo (ESP/EUS) 0:00.
123. David Le Lay (FRA/ALM) 0:00.
124. Jeremy Roy (FRA/FDJ) 0:00.
125. Eros Capecchi (ITA/FOT) 0:00.
126. David De la Fuente (ESP/AST) 0:00.
127. Amaël Moinard (FRA/COF) 0:00.
128. Brian Vandborg (DEN/LIQ) 0:00..
129. Jens Voigt (GER/SAX) 0:00.
130. Fabian Cancellara (SWI/SAX) 0:00.
131. Chris Anker Sörensen (DEN/SAX) 0:00.
132. Chris Horner (USA/RSH) 0:00.
133. Levi Leipheimer (USA/RSH) 0:00.
134. Karsten Kroon (NED/BMC) 0:00.
135. Bram Tankink (NED/RAB) 0:00.
136. Steven Cummings (ENG/SKY) 0:00.
137. Matthieu Perget (FRA/GCE) 0:00.
138. Imanol Erviti (ESP/GCE) 0:00.
139. Markus Eibegger (AUT/FOT) 0:00.
140. Tyler Farrar (USA/GRM) 0:00.
141. Martijn Maaskant (NED/GRM) 0:00.
142. Paolo Tiralongo (ITA/AST) 0:00.
143. Aitor Pérez (ESP/FOT) 0:00.
144. Ivan Mayoz (ESP/FOT) 0:00.
145. Rafael Valls (ESP/FOT) 0:00.
146. Francesco Bellotti (ITA/LIQ) 0:00.
147. Christian Vande Velde (USA/GRM) 0:00.
148. Matthew Lloyd (AUS/OLO) 0:00.
149. Charles Wegelius (GBR/OLO) 0:00.
150. Gregory Rast (SWI/RSH) 0:00.
151. Marcus Burghardt (GER/BMC) 0:00.
152. Nicolas Roche (EIR/ALM) 0:00.
153. Nicolas Vogondy (FRA/BTL) 0:00.
154. Remi Pauriol (FRA/COF) 0:00.
155. Daniel Navarro (ESP/AST) 0:00.
156. Jesus Hernandez (ESP/AST) 0:00.
157. Alexandr Pliushkin (MDA/KAT) 0:00.
158. Carlos Sastre (ESP/CTT) 0:00.
159. Maartens Tjallingii (NED/RAB) 2:37.
160. Maxime Bouet (FRA/ALM) 0:00.
161. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/BTL) 0:00.
162. Dries Devenyns (BEL/QST) 0:00.
163. Andreas Kloden (GER/RSH) 0:00.
164. Sergio Paulinho (POR/RSH) 0:00.
165. Dimitri Champion (FRA/ALM) 0:00.
166. Steve Morabito (SWI/BMC) 0:00.
167. Niki Terpstra (NED/MRM) 0:00.
168. Anthony Roux (FRA/FDJ) 0:00.
169. Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU/CTT) 0:00.
170. David Zabriskie (USA/GRM) 0:00.
171. Serguei Ivanov (RUS/KAT) 0:00.
172. Pavel Brutt (RUS/KAT) 0:00.
173. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) 0:00.
174. Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL/QST) 0:00.
175. Francesco Reda (ITA/QST) 0:00.
176. Mirco Lorenzetto (ITA/LAM) 0:00.
177. Oscar Freire (ESP/RAB) 0:00.
178. Mark Cavendish (IDM/THR) 0:00.
179. Jeremy Hunt (GBR/CTT) 0:00.
180. Lloyd Mondory (FRA/ALM) 0:00.
181. Andreas Klier (GER/CTT) 3:14.
182. Janez Brajkovic (SLO/RSH) 0:00.
183. Michael Rogers (AUS/THR) 0:00.
184. Amets Txurruka (ESP/EUS) 0:00.
185. Lars Boom (NED/RAB) 3:20.
186. Maarten Wijnants (BEL/QST) 3:20.
187. Tony Martin (GER/THR) 0:00.
188. Gerald Ciolek (GER/MRM) 0:00.
189. Alan Perez Lezaun (ESP/EUS) 3:43.
190. Adam Hansen (AUS/THR) 0:00.
191. Remy Di Gregorio (FRA/FDJ) 0:00.
192. Egoi Martinez (ESP/EUS) 0:00.
193. Dmitry Muravyev (KAZ/RSH) 4:06.
194. Fabian Wegmann (GER/MRM) 0:00.
195. Juan Jose Oroz (ESP/EUS) 0:00.
. Manuel Cardoso (POR/FOT) .
. Mathias Frank (SWI/BMC)

Overall standings
1. Fabian Cancellara (SWI/SAX) 5hr 19min 38sec
2. Tony Martin (GER/THR) at 0:10.
3. David Millar (GBR/GRM) 0:20.
4. Lance Armstrong (USA/RSH) 0:22.
5. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) 0:23.
6. Alberto Contador (ESP/AST) 0:27.
7. Tyler Farrar (USA/GRM) 0:28.
8. Levi Leipheimer (USA/RSH) 0:28.
9. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) 0:32.
10. Linus Gerdemann (GER/MRM) 0:35.

Article: AFP by Justin Davis