Early lead fades for Armstrong

MONACO -- Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong went out early and put up a solid time in the opening stage of the Tour de France yesterday, then was upstaged by Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland and nine other riders.

Cancellara finished the 9.6-mile time trial in 19 minutes, 32 seconds, beating 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador by 18 seconds to capture the yellow jersey.

Contador, returning to the Tour for the first time since his victory, staked his claim to leadership of the Astana team by leading four of its riders into the top 10.

Contador, a top climber who didn't race in the 2008 Tour because the Astana team was banned for past doping incidents, established himself as the early favorite among the potential title contenders in the 96th Tour.

The Spaniard also ended, at least for now, any questions about whether he or Armstrong was Astana's top rider in the 2,175-mile race that will finish in Paris on July 26.

Armstrong, who came out of retirement this winter, is competing in his first Tour four years after the last of his record seven victories in cycling's premier event. He said he didn't have any "big illusions" that he'd win the first stage.