Gilbert blasts to victory as Tour gets off to spectacular start

Philippe Gilbert on podium, Tour de France 2011, stage one

Tour de France 2011 stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson>>

Tour de France 2011 stage one video highlights>>

The Tour de France exploded in to life today in a final eight kilometres that saw a favourite's hopes dashed then saved again, and then dashed again, a do or die effort from Cancellara, and finally a win by Belgian Champion Philippe Gilbert.

Attacks from Katusha's Denis Galimzyanov and then by Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) had been quickly and easily covered by the small leading group, but the Swiss caught everyone napping.

None could be seen. The Andy and Frank Schleck (Leopard-Trek) and Bradley Wiggins (Sky) were both up front, as were most of RadioShacks' leaders - all four of them.

After Gilbert's victory the cameras quickly went back to Contador's group to find he had been joined by Andy Schleck, Levi Leipheimer (Radioshack) and Wiggins. It seemed the controversial Spaniard had been saved.

The group cruised over the line one minute 20 seconds back. Wiggins was at the back of the group and lost a further nine seconds. Infuriatingly for those riders who were felled or held up in the last crash the three kilometre rule - whereby anyone who crashes within the final three kilometres is given the time of the group they were in at the time - wasn't enforced.

In fact, the Spaniard wasn't the only favourite to miss out. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) lost the same amount of time, as did Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin). Christian Vande Velde (Garmin) lost 1-55 minutes.

The crossing of the Passage du Gois at the very beginning of the stage may have been a damp squib, but the stage finale was bike racing at it's best. The continued excitement as the results changed an added bonus. Today's stage also proved the change in the Tour's format to be the breath of fresh air the race desperately needed.

Results

Tour de France 2011, stage one: Passage du Gois La Barre de Monts to Mont des Alouettes Les Herbiers, 191.5km

1. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma Lotto

2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC at 3 secs

3. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Garmin-Cervelo at 6 secs

4. Jose Rojas (Esp) Movistar

5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma Lotto

6. Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky

7. Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack

8. Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis

9. Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack

10. Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad all at same time

Overall classification after stage one

1. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma Lotto

2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC at 3 secs

3. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Garmin-Cervelo at 6 secs

4. Jose Rojas (Esp) Movistar

5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma Lotto

6. Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky

7. Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack

8. Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis

9. Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack

10. Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad all at same time

British

16. David Millar (GB) Garmin-Cervelo at 6 secs

50. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky at 6 secs

69. Mark Cavendish (GB) HTC-Highroad at 6 secs

70. Ben Swift (GB) Team Sky at 6 secs

Philippe Gilbert wins, Tour de France 2011, stage one

Philippe Gibert takes the stage win

David Millar at finish, Tour de France 2011, stage one

David Millar crosses the line in 16th

Geraint Thomas in white jersey, Tour de France 2011, stage one

Geraint Thomas in the white jersey

Philippe Gilbert on podium, Tour de France 2011, stage one

Philippe Gilbert in the race lead

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Tour de France 2011: Teams, riders, start list

Tour de France 2011: Official start list

Tour de France 2011: Who's riding?

Tour de France 2011: Team guide

Tour de France 2011: Highlights videos

Stage one video highlights

Tour de France 2011: Photo galleries

Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

Tour de France 2011 team time trial training photo gallery by Andy Jones

Tour de France 2011 team presentation by Andy Jones

Tour de France 2011 team press conferences by Andy Jones

Tour de France 2011 team presentation by Graham Watson

Tour de France 2011: Live text coverage

Tour de France 2011 LIVE: CW's text coverage schedule

Tour de France 2011: Archive videos

Video: 2003 Centenary Tour

Video: Lance Armstrong retrospective

Video: Behind the scenes at the Tour

Video: Guerini's 1999 stage win

Video: Thrills and spills at the Tour

Video: Armstrong in 1999

Video: The Indurain years

Video: Ladies of the Tour

Video: Best of bizarre

Tour de France 2011: TV schedule

British Eurosport Tour de France 2011 TV schedule

ITV4 Tour de France 2011 TV schedule

Tour de France 2011: Related links

Tour de France: The jerseys, what they are and what they mean

Potted history of the Tour de France

The closest Tours in history

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Wiggins

Tour de France 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

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