TOUR DE FRANCE: Cancellara claims prologue; Armstrong fourth

Posted: Saturday 3rd July 2010 | 18:40

FABIAN Cancellara seized the Tour de France yellow jersey with his third career prologue victory in Rotterdam.

YELLOW JERSEY: Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara claimed his third career Tour de France prologue win in Rotterdam (Getty Images)

The flat and straight profile of the 8.9km route was always going to suit master time trialler Cancellara, the world and Olympic champion, who is virtually unbeatable in this sort of form.

The Saxo Bank rider, who shrugged off allegations that he might have used an engine-powered bike in one-day classics earlier this year, beat long-time provisional leader Tony Martin by ten seconds, covering the course in exactly ten minutes, despite the greasy road conditions.

Lance Armstrong laid down a major marker with one of his best time trial performances since returning to the sport.

He came home 22 seconds behind Cancellara in an impressive fourth place, finishing ahead of reigning champion Alberto Contador, who finished sixth, a small but welcome morale boost ahead of future challenges.

David Millar was the top British finisher in third while Geraint Thomas, the new national road race champion, led home the Team Sky contingent in fifth while general classification hope Bradley Wiggins was 74th overall, 56 seconds off the pace.

Early starter Wiggins - fourth 12 months ago - took a cautious approach as the wet conditions made life treacherous but will still not be happy to lose so much early time on his rivals for the maillot jaune.

Sunday's 224km first stage from Rotterdam across the border to Brussels in Belgium will suit the sprinters, including Great Britain's green jersey contender Mark Cavendish, who won six stages in last year's race.

Comments

Forgot to mention great

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/03/2010 - 19:01.

Forgot to mention great rides from Dave Millar and Geraint Thomas - two Brits in the top ten is not so bad. Team Sky's marginal gains strategy has its flaws though.

Wiggins

Submitted by fredrust (not verified) on Sat, 07/03/2010 - 19:03.

I agree too cautious from Team Sky. Look at the difference in approach from Armstrong, although he did have better conditions. You would have predicted better from the Olympic pursuit champion that 76th. Agreed to Geraint, great performance again just six days after his last great performance! Roll on the next 3 weeks.

My only slight criticism of

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/03/2010 - 19:16.

My only slight criticism of Team Sky's "marginal gains" mantra, when regarding Bradder's, is that today's gains weren't that marginal, and they weren't gains.

Wiggins' strategy [to start

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/03/2010 - 18:59.

Wiggins' strategy [to start early] backfired but they knew the risk there. His approach to the prologue, however, was too cautious. Be aware of the conditions, yes [and, to be fair, he had it just about the worst], but to lose 40 seconds on podium rivals is a blow even at this very early stage.