Cancellara takes yellow jersey after prologue

Swiss Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara stuck with tradition yesterday by winning the opening prologue of the 97th Tour de France to take possession of the race's yellow jersey.

Cancellara, the time trial champion from Beijing in 2008 who rides for Saxo Bank, claimed what was his fourth prologue win in the world's biggest race after pushing impressive German Tony Martin into second place by 10 seconds.

Britain's David Millar was third in a time of 10:20; the Scot, who rides for Garmin-Transitions, finishing two seconds ahead of seven-time champion Lance Armstrong of RadioShack.

Welshman Geraint Thomas, of Team Sky, completed the top five, with reigning Tour de France champion Alberto Contador, of Astana, in sixth place.

England's Bradley Wiggins, one of the favourites for the short time trial that traditionally opens the three-week epic, finished way off the pace in 77th place, losing a massive 56 seconds, and 29 to Contador.

Martin, who is considered one of Germany's future challengers for yellow jersey honours, appeared to have been handed a huge slice of luck when he got to start 11th from the 198-man field in Rotterdam.

Shortly after he powered over the line in the best provisional time the skies opened, and for much of the day the field had to race in the rain, making accelerations, and particularly turns, tricky and dangerous.

The rain eventually eased off and the clouds made way for blue skies just as many of the bigger names like Armstrong, Contador and Cancellara were preparing to start.

Cancellara, who was recently at the centre of controversy after claims he could have used a hidden mini-engine in his bike for key victories earlier this spring, took full advantage to take the provisional lead at the half-way point.

Martin, watching nervously at the finish, was only six seconds behind by then but the writing was on the wall and Cancellara finished a full 10 seconds faster than the German.