Cancellara wins opening prologue

Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland won the opening prologue of the 2007 Tour de France, posting a blistering time of 8 minutes 50.74 seconds over the 7.9km London course.

Cancellara, who will now wear the coveted race leader's yellow jersey for Sunday's first stage from London to Canterbury, was one of the last riders to ride the course and finished on The Mall with a healthy margin of victory.

The time-trial specialist, who rides for the Danish CSC team, was about 13 seconds ahead of second-placed German Andreas Kloden while American George Hincapie finished third, a further 10 seconds back.

Britain's Bradley Wiggins, who spent much of his childhood in London in Maida Vale, came fourth, just missing out on a place on the podium.