THE SWISS IN A TIME smashed against COUNTER WITH A GREAT, which finished second Cancellara is crowned in Monaco

* The Swiss became the first leader of the Tour after a stunning time trial Contador finished second and got some more time to their rivals by the director general

Swiss Fabian Cancellara managed to spray all the times in the first stage of the Tour de France which consisted of a 15 km time trial around the streets of Monaco. The corridor of Saxo Bank won the best mark and placed first overall leader followed by an impressive Alberto Contador and Bradley Wiggins, second and third respectively.

Best, impossible. Sensational start of the Tour de France 2009 with an impressive time trial where the excitement was served to the end and where the big favorite, Fabian Cancellara, answered perfectly. Contador was the one who planted it more expensive after a good fight against the clock that gave the second in the time trial and, therefore, in general (also crowned as king of the mountain).
[photo from the news]
RANKINGS

See the results of the stage and how the general

But there was more, much more. Lance Armstrong was the first name in the exit and take the expectation to see the seven-time Tour champion was huge. Nobody wanted to miss his return to the country French after three years of inactivity. The U.S., as he himself acknowledged later, he noticed the nerves in his return to major competition. However, this did not prevent him from maintaining the top spot at the finish line for a long time.

Armstrong, a little nervous
However, the Texan for 37 years was aware that there were still heavy in the peloton. The first deal was a whiplash Tony Martin. The German completed a sensational time trial and in seven seconds ahead of Armstrong. But his partner in Astana, Levi Leipheimer, wanted to avenge his friend and broke just after the time of Martin in three seconds.

Runners passed the finish line and no one exceeded the time Levi (20:02). However, suddenly and almost out of nowhere, two 'spontaneous' to which no one seemed to be invited to the party. Roman Kreuziger first was that after doubling Jeremy Roy, managed to come second at the finish line. And then came the third blow with Andreas Klöden of Astana.

The German, with which almost no one had made his legs tremble from the rest of favorites in eight seconds beyond the time of his teammate, Levi Leipheimer. And yet there was still the main attraction of the day with the important men of the squad. After leaving Wiggins was the turn of Denis Menchov.
[photo from the news]
GALLERY

The best pictures from the first stage

Menchov, the great disappointment
Russian Rabobank was the great disappointment of the day with a sad time trial where he was dubbed by Cancellara. With all the riders on the road, the excitement was in the 7.5 mile, the intermediate point, where it was Alberto Contador candidate nailed his flag to victory.

After that Wiggins marked the fastest time in goal, came the turn of Fabian Cancellara, who crushed all times and left his mark in 19:32 after an overwhelming part of the tour. Contador came right after, which was the initial effort but that was the second day with a sensational time trial 19 seconds to the Swiss.

Then come Cadel Evans and Carlos Sastre. The Australian was left to five seconds of Contador, while the reigning champion of the Tour de France it was a 48 Pinto. But the photo was Cancellara, who is positioned as the first leader of a Tour de France promises to be spectacular.