Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara became the first rider to wear the 2012 Tour de France leader’s yellow jersey after taking his fifth prologue win on Saturday.
Radioshack Nissan rider Cancellara won the 6.4-kilometer individual time trial in Liege, Belgium, in a time of 7 minutes 13 seconds, with British sprinter Bradley Wiggins 7 seconds behind, a fraction of a second ahead of French rider Sylvain Chavanel.
Cancellara is a time trial specialist whose career wins include four world time trial championships and the gold medal in the event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Sunday’s 198-kilometer stage one is classified as a flat stage but features four steep climbs as the peloton makes its way from Liege to the Belgian town of Seraing.
The event ends on the Champs Elysees in Paris on July 22.
