Tour de France…
LONDON, England (BBC) – Fabian Cancellara powered to victory in the opening time trial of the Tour de France yesterday as seven-time champion Lance Armstrong made his return to the race. Armstrong’s time of 20 minutes and 12 seconds for the 15.5-km time trial around Monaco was 40 seconds behind the winner as he finished in 10th place.

Briton Bradley Wiggins was third, 19 seconds behind Cancellara and one slower than Spain’s Alberto Contador.

Mark Cavendish was well off the pace, a good three minutes behind the winner.

Cavendish, who won three Giro d’Italia stages, was never expected to figure in the reckoning, but the Briton could feature on today’s 187km stage from Monaco to Brignoles, when there is possibility of a sprint finish.

The major story of yesterday’s stage was Armstrong’s return and the American produced a solid ride.

The Astana rider went out relatively early and held first place at one point, although he was soon displaced by Germany’s Tony Martin before team-mate Levi Leipheimer took the lead.

“I did not have big illusions,” said the 37-year-old Armstrong, who last rode the Tour in 2005.

“I was a bit nervous but it is logical. I’m just happy to be here even if we don’t win because there are a lot of other things I could be doing right now.

“It is a difficult course for sure but I think it is difficult for everybody. It is very technical, it is hard to find a rhythm but that’s logical after years away.

“What a beautiful race. It was fun. I felt pretty good, overall, I feel good. I was a little bit all over the place.”

Leipheimer, with a time of 20 minutes and three seconds, remained in the lead until another Astana rider, Andreas Kloden, produced a brilliant ride to lead by nine seconds.

However, many of the stage favourites were among the last to depart and the lead changed hands several times over the final few minutes.

Wiggins was extremely impressive and led briefly but Contador, who was quickest all day through the split, defeated him by one second.

However, nobody could match the time that Cancellara posted, with the Swiss time trial champion setting a blistering pace through the final section to claim the stage and with it the yellow jersey.

“I was one of the favourites 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,” said Cancellara.

“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.

Not everyone knows Cancellara is back and he is stronger.”

Australian Cadel Evans, one of the pre-race favourites, ensured he did not lose too much time with a fifth-place finish, 23 seconds behind Cancellara.

The stage was largely uphill for the first 7.5km, before some technically challenging descents took the field towards the finish.

And it proved to be a disaster for Giro d’Italia winner Denis Menchov, who was overtaken by Cancellara and finished one minute and 32 seconds behind the winner.

Briton David Millar finished a creditable 13th, 48 seconds behind the winner, while Charlie Wegelius was 89th.

Defending champion Carlos Sastre of Spain was 21st, more than one minute off the pace.

The 96th Tour goes through six countries before finishing on July 26 in Paris after a race of 2,150 miles.