MONACO: Switzerland’s Olympic time-trial champion Fabian Cancellara won the first stage of the Tour de France in a time of 19 minutes 32.14 seconds to claim the yellow jersey on Saturday.

The 28-year-old showed his class with an impressive performance on the twisting and challenging 15.5km hilly course around the tiny Principality to claim his fourth

stage victory on the Tour and was strong on the climb.

Outstanding on the descent, current Tour of Switzerland champion Cancellara wiped

19 seconds off the previous fastest time set by Bradley Wiggins, who eventually finished third with Astana’s Alberto Contador second.

Seven-times Tour champion Lance Armstrong, who is back after nearly four years in retirement, showed he still has the potential to worry the leaders as he finished 10th in a time of 20min 12sec — 40 seconds behind the winner.