News

Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland has won the opening stage of the Tour de France, with seven-time champion Lance Armstrong finishing 10th, according to provisional results.

The 180 riders have completed the 15.5-kilometer (9.6 mile) time trial in which they set off one by one along winding and hilly roads of the tiny Mediterranean principality of Monaco.

Provisional results show Cancellara beat 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador in second by 18 seconds and that Armstrong finished 40 seconds adrift of the stage winner.

Saturday''s race against the clock offered an early shakeout of potential title contenders for the three-week race over nearly 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles). The race ends July 26 in Paris.

Results on Saturday from the first stage of the Tour de France, a 9.6-mile individual time trial in Monaco:

1. Fabian Cancellara, Switzerland, Team Saxo Bank, 19 minutes, 32 seconds.
2. Alberto Contador, Spain, Astana, 18 seconds behind.
3. Bradley Wiggins, Britain, Garmin-Slipstream, :19.
4. Andreas Kloden, Germany, Astana, :22.
5. Cadel Evans, Australia, Silence-Lotto, :23.
6. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Astana, :30.
7. Roman Kreuziger, Czech Republic, Liquigas, :32.
8. Tony Martin, Germany, Team Columbia-High Road, :33.
9. Vincenzo Nibali, Italy, Liquigas, :37.
10. Lance Armstrong, United States, Astana, :40.
11. Gustav Larsson, Sweden, Team Saxo Bank, :41.
12. Mikel Astarloza, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, :44.
13. David Zabriskie, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, :47.
14. David Millar, Britain, Garmin-Slipstream, :48.
15. Jerome Coppel, France, Francaise des Jeux, :51.
16. Sylvain Chavanel, France, Quick Step, :56.
17. Christian Vande Velde, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, :57.
18. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo Bank, 1:00.
19. Linus Gerdemann, Germany, Team Milram, 1:03.
20. Remi Pauriol, France, Cofidis, 1:05.