Flying start in Monaco for Cancellara

Matt Majendie

• Last Updated: July 05. 2009 11:38AM UAE / July 5. 2009 7:38AM GMT

MONACO // Fabian Cancellara proved his credentials as the world’s leading time triallist with a blistering ride on the opening stage time trial in Monaco.

The Olympic time trial champion, the fourth from last rider out of the starting block, clocked a time of 19 minutes and 32 seconds to move into the leader’s yellow jersey for the first time since 2007 where he wore it for the opening week of the Tour.

Cancellara’s ride was so impressive he caught up on the road with Giro d’Italia winner Denis Menchov, who had started his ride a minute earlier, in the final few hundred metres of the punishing course.

The Swiss rider had looked in danger of being upstaged by race favourite Alberto Contador, who set the quickest time at the halfway point.

But the Spaniard could not maintain the pace and had to make do with second place, 18 seconds behind Cancellara. Britain’s Bradley Wiggins was third, a second further behind Contador.

Contador’s teammate Lance Armstrong caught the early attention when he initially moved to the top of the timesheets with his time over the 15.5-kilometre course.

But it was only enough to eventually give the Texan 10th place — 40 seconds behind race leader Cancellara — an admirable performance following his three-year absence from the Tour.

Afterwards Armstrong said: “It was a very technical course but I’m happy with my ride. I’ve not been at the Tour for a while so I’m quite pleased with that — it wasn’t bad at all.”

Defending champion Carlos Sastre, not known for his time trialling, struggled against the clock and came in just outside the top 20 having lost more than a minute to Cancellara.

The Tour continues tomorrow with the 187-kilometre second stage from Monaco to Brignoles.

mmajendie@thenational.ae