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Cancellara wins Tour opener in Monaco

Contador second, Wiggins third in 15.5km time trial

Published: Jul. 4, 2009
2009 Tour de France, stage 1: Cancellara celebrates.
2009 Tour de France, stage 1: Cancellara celebrates.
Photo: Graham Watson

If there was any doubt about Fabian Cancellara’s time trial superiority, the big Swiss rider erased it by stomping his way to a commanding win in the 15.5km opening stage of the Tour de France in Monaco. His finishing time of 19:32 put him well ahead of second-place Alberto Contador.

"I was one of the favorites to win here before the race and I knew if I got things right it would be very difficult for my rivals to beat me," Cancellara said. "That was special motivation. To be back in the yellow jersey again is a great achievement both for me and my team, I am proud of it."

Bradley Wiggins of Garmin-Slipstream finished third. And Astana’s Andreas Klöden and Levi Leipheimer took fourth and sixth, respectively.

Riding in the yellow and red skinsuit of Spanish national champion, Contador clearly established himself as the early favorite of the general classification riders, with 2008 Tour winner Carlos Sastre finishing 21st in 20:38, and last year’s runner-up Cadel Evans finishing fifth at 19:55.

2009 Tour de France

Stage 1: Monaco time trial
15.5km (9.6 miles)
Stage winner: Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) in 19:32
Stage winner's average speed: 47.4 kph (29.6 mph)
GC leader: Cancellara
Points leader: Cancellara
Climbing leader: Alberto Contador (Astana)
Team GC leader: Astana
Best young rider: Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas)
Up Next:
Stage 2 is 187km (116 miles) from Monaco to Brignoles. The route includes four categorized climbs, but they are unlikely to be decisive.

Picture perfect grand départ

The 96th Tour de France got underway under calm, blue skies next to a calm, blue sea. The hilly and winding 15.5km course took riders up away from Monaco’s port into French territory, before dropping them back down along the water for a flat, fast run-in to the finish.

It didn’t take long for the virtual race lead to begin seesawing between Team Columbia-HTC and Team Astana. Columbia’s Maxime Monfort set the early best time through the first time check at 7.5km of 12:01. Astana’s Lance Armstrong, the 18th man to start, soon came through the midpoint at 11:39.

Armstrong clearly knew the course well. He rode full gas around blind bends where he knew he had room, and sat up ahead of tight switchbacks, yet carried enough speed through to use the full width of the road. Despite a little bobble within the last kilometer, Armstrong powered to the finish out of the saddle, throwing his bike at the line to stop the clock at 20:12.

Armstrong took the early lead in the stage 1 prologue on Saturday, stopping the clock at 20min 12.36sec.
Armstrong took the early lead in the stage 1 prologue on Saturday, stopping the clock at 20min 12.36sec.
Photo: Agence France Presse

“It was hard, very technical, hard to find my rhythm,” Armstrong said. “I've been away a long time. I did the best I could ... What a beautiful course. The best way to sum it up is that I had fun. I felt pretty good. ... We'll have to see how the other guys do, but I never expected to win the stage or take the yellow jersey.”

Columbia’s Tony Martin exploded through the course, quickly catching his minute man and posting an intermediate time of 11:27. After taking the tight, downhill 180-degree bend about five minutes from the finish very delicately, Martin sprinted back up to speed to finish 20:05, besting Armstrong.

Then Levi Leipheimer came though and reclaimed the lead on the road for Astana, posting a 20:02.

Other time trial specialists had mixed fortunes. Garmin-Slipstream’s David Millar raced aggressively, coming into the tight, downhill bend so hot he locked up his brakes. He kept his bike upright and his focus intact, however, and finished in 20:20. World time trial champion Bert Grabsch of Team Columbia-HTC didn’t fare so well, however, coming through in 21:23.

2009 Tour de France, stage 1: Cancellara took the stage 1 win and the first yellow jersey of 2009.
2009 Tour de France, stage 1: Cancellara took the stage 1 win and the first yellow jersey of 2009.
Photo: Graham Watson

Rising star Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) challenged Leipheimer’s lead, but finished just outside of the American with a time of 20:04.

Then Astana’s Klöden came through to best his teammate with a top time of 19:54.

Christian Vande Velde, fourth overall in last year’s Tour, came in at 20:29. His teammate Dave Zabriskie, the U.S. time trial champion, finished 10 seconds better at 20:19.

At day’s end, it was an encouraging day for Team Astana, putting four riders in the top 10, including Armstrong in tenth.

Cancellara and Saxo Bank, of course, felt pretty good, too.

"Now everyone knows Cancellara is back and he is stronger," Cancellara said. "We will defend the yellow jersey until the team time trial."

AFP contributed to this report.


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