Written by: Justin Davis

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands – Swiss Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara stuck with tradition on Saturday by winning the opening prologue of the 97th Tour de France to take possession of the race’s yellow jersey.

Cancellara, the time trial champion from Beijing in 2008 who rides for Saxo Bank, claimed what was his fourth prologue win in the world’s biggest race after pushing impressive German Tony Martin into second place by 10sec.

Having wowed the crowds in Liege in 2004, lapped up the attention of millions in London in 2007 and triumphed in the millionaire’s playground of Monaco last year, Cancellara did it once again in rainy Rotterdam.

By the time he saddled up, however, the skies had turned blue and the sun peeked out to give him a sign that the yellow could again be his.

“Today was another special day for me, but particularly with the weather conditions,” said Cancellara.

“I had a hard time (waiting) in the bus, I was praying that the sunshine was coming out, to give me a sign of the yellow. It’s turned to my favor, and shows you always need a little bit of luck to win.”

Britain’s David Millar was third in a time of 10:20; the Scot, who rides for Garmin-Transitions, finishing two seconds ahead of seven-time champion Lance Armstrong of RadioShack.

Welshman Geraint Thomas, of Team Sky, completed the top five, with reigning Tour de France champion Alberto Contador of Astana in sixth place.

England’s Bradley Wiggins, one of the favorites for the short time trial that traditionally opens the three-week epic, finished way off the pace in 77th place, losing a massive 56secs, and 29 to Contador.

However with plenty to race, Wiggins was defiant.

“The prologue is so insignificant in the three weeks — it’s seconds here and it’s going to be minutes in three weeks’ time,” he said.

Millar admitted he was surprised by Wiggins’ result, but that did not take anything away from his own enjoyment of the course.

“I was surprised, I thought he’d do better than that. It was the perfect route for him,” said Millar, who claimed the changing conditions did not handicap the field as some claimed.

“Even with the wet roads you could really go fast. They were exactly the same, actually at the beginning it was a little bit wet, but sometimes it’s worse because you don’t know whether it’s gonna go fast or slow.

“But everybody had the same conditions. The roads were the same.”

Martin, who is considered one of Germany’s future challengers for yellow jersey honors, finished his race in near perfect conditions but soon after the skies opened.

It made accelerations, and particularly turns, tricky and dangerous — and Australian Cadel Evans, one of around 10 likely challengers to Spain’s reigning champion Alberto Contador, admitted he took a conservative approach, which left him in 23rd at 39 behind Cancellara.

“I certainly took less risks than I would have intended to in the dry,” said the Australian, a two-time runner-up in the race.

The rain eventually eased off and the clouds made way for blue skies just as many of the bigger names like Armstrong, Contador and Cancellara were preparing to start.

Martin watched nervously at the finish as Cancellara took a six-second lead at the intermediate point, and the HTC-Columbia man had to be comforted by his girlfriend as he settled for second.

Cancellara will now wear the yellow jersey into Sunday’s opening stage over 223.5km from Rotterdam to Brussels, which should finish in a bunch sprint.

Contador, meanwhile, was happy with a result that keeps him firmly in contention ahead of some potentially dangerous flat stages for the mountain-loving Spaniard.

“I had a little bit of trouble finding a good rhythm, but overall I’m happy,” he said.

“It was made difficult by the fact I couldn’t afford to take too many risks than was really necessary.

“It’s best to lose a few seconds here than run the risk of crashing.”

Result of the Tour de France prologue, an 8.9km time trial here on Saturday:

1. Fabian Cancellara (SUI/SAX) 10min 00sec
2. Tony Martin (GER/THR) at 10sec
3. David Millar (GBR/GRM) 20
4. Lance Armstrong (USA/RSH) 22
5. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) 23
6. Alberto Contador (ESP/AST) 27
7. Tyler Farrar (USA/GRM) 28
8. Levi Leipheimer (USA/RSH) 28
9. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) 32
10. Linus Gerdemann (GER/MRM) 35
11. Brent Bookwalter (USA/BMC) 35
12. Adriano Malori (ITA/LAM) 35
13. Janez Brajkovic (SLO/RSH) 35
14. Michael Rogers (AUS/THR) 35
15. Ruben Plaza (ESP/GCE) 36
16. Niki Terpstra (NED/MRM) 36
17. Andreas Kloeden (GER/RSH) 36
18. Vasili Kiryienka (BLR/GCE) 38
19. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ/AST) 38
20. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/LIQ) 38
21. Robert Hunter (RSA/GRM) 39
22. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/GCE) 39
23. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) 39
24. Andriy Grivko (UKR/AST) 40
25. David Zabriskie (USA/GRM) 40
26. Vladimir Karpets (RUS/KAT) 40
27. Manuel Quinziato (ITA/LIQ) 41
28. Steve Morabito (SUI/BMC) 41
29. Maxime Monfort (BEL/THR) 41
30. Kristjan Koren (SLO/LIQ) 42
31. Daniel Oss (ITA/LIQ) 43
32. Lars Boom (NED/RAB) 44
33. Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU/CTT) 44
34. Rein Taaramae (EST/COF) 45
35. Carlos Barredo (ESP/QST) 46
36. Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP/SKY) 46
37. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/GRM) 46
38. Damien Monier (FRA/COF) 47
39. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/LAM) 48
40. Thomas Loevkvist (SWE/SKY) 48
41. Brett Lancaster (AUS/CTT) 49
42. Maarten Tjallingii (NED/RAB) 49
43. Rui Costa (POR/GCE) 49
44. Jerome Pineau (FRA/QST) 49
45. Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP/GCE) 49
46. Juergen Van den Broeck (BEL/OLO) 49
47. Nicolas Roche (EIR/ALM) 49
48. Martijn Maaskant (NED/GRM) 49
49. Matthieu Ladagnous (FRA/FDJ) 49
50. Sandy Casar (FRA/FDJ) 49
51. Jeremy Roy (FRA/FDJ) 49
52. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN/SAX) 50
53. Roger Kluge (GER/MRM) 50
54. Simon Gerrans (AUS/SKY) 50
55. Grischa Niermann (GER/RAB) 50
56. Robert Gesink (NED/RAB) 51
57. Alexandr Pliushkin (MDA/KAT) 51
58. Chris Horner (USA/RSH) 52
59. David Le Lay (FRA/ALM) 52
60. Christophe Moreau (FRA/GCE) 52
61. Gerald Ciolek (GER/MRM) 52
62. Francesco Bellotti (ITA/LIQ) 53
63. Christian Knees (GER/MRM) 53
64. Sebastien Turgot (FRA/BTL) 53
65. Christophe Riblon (FRA/ALM) 54
66. Johan Van Summeren (BEL/GRM) 54
67. Bram Tankink (NED/RAB) 54
68. George Hincapie (USA/BMC) 54
69. Sergio Paulinho (POR/RSH) 54
70. Carlos Sastre (ESP/CTT) 54
71. Imanol Erviti (ESP/GCE) 55
72. Ivan Basso (ITA/LIQ) 55
73. Dries Devenyns (BEL/QST) 55
74. Denis Menchov (RUS/RAB) 56
75. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/EUS) 56
76. Bert Grabsch (GER/THR) 56
77. Bradley Wiggins (GBR/SKY) 56
78. Christophe Kern (FRA/COF) 56
79. Frank Schleck (LUX/SAX) 57
80. Luke Roberts (AUS/MRM) 57
81. Adam Hansen (AUS/THR) 57
82. Gorka Verdugo (ESP/EUS) 58
83. Pavel Brutt (RUS/KAT) 59
84. Jens Voigt (GER/SAX) 59
85. Ivan Gutierrez (ESP/GCE) 59
86. Benoit Vaugrenard (FRA/FDJ) 59
87. Sebastian Lang (GER/OLO) 59
88. Mirco Lorenzetto (ITA/LAM) 59
89. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/QST) 59
90. Daniel Moreno (ESP/OLO) 1min 00sec
91. Maarten Wijnants (BEL/QST) 1:00
92. Christian Vande Velde (USA/GRM) 1:00
93. Alessandro Ballan (ITA/BMC) 1:00
94. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR/RSH) 1:01
95. Martin Elmiger (SUI/ALM) 1:01
96. Juergen Roelandts (BEL/OLO) 1:02
97. Remi Pauriol (FRA/COF) 1:02
98. Mickael Delage (FRA/OLO) 1:03
99. Arkaitz Duran (ESP/FOT) 1:03
100. Julien El Fares (FRA/COF) 1:04
101. Johannes Froehlinger (GER/MRM) 1:04
102. Christophe Le Mevel (FRA/FDJ) 1:04
103. Aliaksandr Kuchynski (BLR/LIQ) 1:04
104. Danilo Hondo (GER/LAM) 1:05
105. Mauro Santambrogio (ITA/BMC) 1:05
106. Maxime Bouet (FRA/ALM) 1:05
107. Kevin De Weert (BEL/QST) 1:05
108. Stuart O’Grady (AUS/SAX) 1:06
109. Anthony Roux (FRA/FDJ) 1:06
110. Nicolas Vogondy (FRA/BTL) 1:06
111. Robbie McEwen (AUS/KAT) 1:06
112. Juan Jose Oroz (ESP/EUS) 1:06
113. Steven Cummings (ENG/SKY) 1:07
114. Samuel Dumoulin (FRA/COF) 1:07
115. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) 1:08
116. Francesco Reda (ITA/QST) 1:08
117. Benjamin Noval (ESP/AST) 1:08
118. Mark Renshaw (AUS/THR) 1:08
119. Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR/THR) 1:08
120. Michael Barry (CAN/SKY) 1:08
121. Sebastien Minard (FRA/COF) 1:09
122. Andy Schleck (LUX/SAX) 1:09
123. Iban Mayoz (ESP/FOT) 1:09
124. Thomas Rohregger (AUT/MRM) 1:09
125. Cyril Gautier (FRA/BTL) 1:09
126. Charles Wegelius (GBR/OLO) 1:10
127. Mark Cavendish (IDM/THR) 1:10
128. Juan Manuel Garate (ESP/RAB) 1:10
129. Simon Spilak (SLO/LAM) 1:10
130. Markus Eibegger (AUT/FOT) 1:10
131. Paolo Tiralongo (ITA/AST) 1:10
132. Koos Moerenhout (NED/RAB) 1:10
133. Bernhard Eisel (AUT/THR) 1:11
134. Nicki Soerensen (DEN/SAX) 1:12
135. Gregory Rast (SUI/RSH) 1:12
136. Oscar Freire (ESP/RAB) 1:12
137. Brian Vandborg (DEN/LIQ) 1:12
138. Karsten Kroon (NED/BMC) 1:13
139. Jeremy Hunt (GBR/CTT) 1:13
140. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 1:13
141. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA/BTL) 1:13
142. Fabio Felline (ITA/FOT) 1:13
143. Anthony Charteau (FRA/BTL) 1:14
144. Grega Bole (SLO/LAM) 1:14
145. Francesco Gavazzi (ITA/LAM) 1:15
146. Andreas Klier (GER/CTT) 1:15
147. Kevin Seeldraeyers (BEL/QST) 1:16
148. Mauro Da Dalto (ITA/LAM) 1:16
149. Maxim Iglinskiy (KAZ/AST) 1:16
150. Stephane Auge (FRA/COF) 1:16
151. Daniel Navarro (ESP/AST) 1:16
152. Mathieu Sprick (FRA/BTL) 1:17
153. Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL/QST) 1:18
154. Amael Moinard (FRA/COF) 1:18
155. Rafael Valls (ESP/FOT) 1:18
156. Eros Capecchi (ITA/FOT) 1:19
157. Thor Hushovd (NOR/CTT) 1:19
158. Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL/KAT) 1:19
159. Rémy Di Gregorio (FRA/FDJ) 1:19
160. Mario Aerts (BEL/OLO) 1:19
161. Chris Anker Soerensen (DEN/SAX) 1:19
162. Sylvester Szmyd (POL/LIQ) 1:20
163. Lloyd Mondory (FRA/ALM) 1:20
164. Dimitri Champion (FRA/ALM) 1:20
165. Inaki Isasi (ESP/EUS) 1:21
166. Matthew Lloyd (AUS/OLO) 1:21
167. Egoi Martinez (ESP/EUS) 1:21
168. Volodymir Gustov (UKR/CTT) 1:21
169. Anthony Geslin (FRA/FDJ) 1:22
170. John Gadret (FRA/ALM) 1:22
171. Julian Dean (NZL/GRM) 1:22
172. Matti Breschel (DEN/SAX) 1:22
173. Amets Txurruka (ESP/EUS) 1:22
174. Yukiya Arashiro (JPN/BTL) 1:22
175. Marcus Burghardt (GER/BMC) 1:22
176. Alexandre Kolobnev (RUS/KAT) 1:23
177. Daniel Lloyd (ENG/CTT) 1:23
178. Jesus Hernandez (ESP/AST) 1:24
179. Alan Perez Lezaun (ESP/EUS) 1:24
180. Serge Pauwels (BEL/SKY) 1:24
181. Francis de Greef (BEL/OLO) 1:25
182. Fabian Wegmann (GER/MRM) 1:25
183. Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA/ALM) 1:27
184. Serguei Ivanov (RUS/KAT) 1:28
185. Pierre Rolland (FRA/BTL) 1:28
186. Eduard Vorganov (RUS/KAT) 1:29
187. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/BTL) 1:31
188. David De la Fuente (ESP/AST) 1:31
189. Iban Velasco (ESP/EUS) 1:33
190. Dimitry Muravyev (KAZ/RSH) 1:34
191. Wesley Sulzberger (AUS/FDJ) 1:37
192. Aitor Perez (ESP/FOT) 1:38
193. Ruben Perez (ESP/EUS) 1:39
194. Jose Alberto Benitez (ESP/FOT) 1:40
195. Matthieu Perget (FRA/GCE) 1:42
196. Mathias Frank (SUI/BMC) 3:32
197. Manuel Cardoso (POR/FOT) 6:20

Article: AFP