Wiggins third as Tour de France begins

This year's Tour de France began in Monaco with a time trial won by Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara of the Saxo Bank team.

He beat Tour favourite Alberto Contador into second place to grab the yellow jersey. Britain's Bradley Wiggins came a creditable third and returning legend Lance Armstrong finished in ninth.

Today's first stage of racing takes the riders on an 187km journey from Monaco to Brignoles near Marseilles.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:

Richard Williams, the Observer: "The short but demanding time trial through the streets of Monaco, with four-and-a-half miles of jolting climbs followed by descents at speeds of up to 50mph and a flat run-in, was won by Fabian Cancellara, the Swiss rider with the Saxo Bank team, repeating his shattering victory in the London prologue two years ago. His time of 19min 32sec was 18 seconds better than that of Alberto Contador, Armstrong's colleague in the Astana team, the overall winner of the 2007 Tour and the favourite to wear the yellow jersey in Paris in three weeks' time."

Brendan Gallagher, Sunday Telegraph: "Fabien Cancellara might not have broken the bank at Monte Carlo but he will leave Monaco the happiest of men on Sunday morning after going for broke and destroying the field on the Prologue stage of the Tour de France. The powerful Swiss rider, the Olympic time-trial champion, risked everything on a thrilling final descent as he swooped down into the spectacular finish in Quai Albert to defeat Tour favourite Alberto Contador by 18 seconds with Britain's Bradley Wiggins claiming a superb third place a further second behind."