Swiss Fabian Cancellara snatched the Tour de France yellow jersey with a smashing victory in the opening time trial on Saturday, while seven-times champion Lance Armstrong made a respectable return to the race he used to dominate.
Hot favorite and 2007 champion Alberto Contador of Spain was second, 18 seconds behind Cancellara. Briton Bradley Wiggins was third, 19 seconds off the pace.
Contador, who was named Astana leader by team manager Johan Bruyneel, lived up to expectations and stamped his authority on the squad with a solid performance.
Neither German Andreas Kloeden, fourth, nor Americans Levi Leipheimer and Armstrong …Â Details