2012 Tour de France: Fabian Cancellara wins Prologue and is in Yellow

Decorated shop in Pauillac in 2010 for the finish of the time trial from Bordeaux 

Clearly I should have gone for Fabian Cancellara to win the prologue as seven seconds in such a short distance is winning by a mile! Tony Martin might have had second place if he hadn't the rotten misfortune to puncture but even so Cancellara would still have won comfortably. Good ride by Bradley Wiggins down by six seconds on long-time leader Sylvain Chavanel at the half-way stage to take the six seconds back on the second half and just pip Chavanel. However, Chavanel's ride was for me the big surprise of the day. Also fine ride by Denis Menchov – just six seconds behind Wiggins – plus also David Millar only 18 seconds down despite being ill over the last couple of days. 

Wonderful ride, of course, for Cancellara after his injury in the Tour of Flanders but a successful and morale boosting start for Bradley Wiggins taking time on all the overall contenders: Cadel Evans (10 secs), Vincenzo Nibali (11 secs), Levi Leipheimer and Jurgen van den Broeck (21 secs) and Frank Schleck (30 secs). Difficult to see Frank Schleck as a serious contender in this year's edition given his limitations in time trialling as well as descending. Will he even finish the Tour this year?

Young Peter Sagan (22 years old) looked impressive but overcooked it on one of the roundabouts. Clearly youthful over-enthusiasm but he may well feature in the days to come. Whether he will go all the way to Paris is another matter as 22 is young for a Tour ride. 


Fabian Cancellara is now on 8 stage wins equal with Barry Hoban, Marco Pantani, Rudi Altig among others. List of all time stage winners now updated here.

Tomorrow morning some thoughts on the far from easy first full stage.