96th Tour de France begins in Monaco with seven-time champion Armstrong on comeback

Tour de France starts in Monaco

MONACO — Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong began his comeback at the Tour de France on Saturday by briefly taking the lead in the first-stage time trial in Monaco.

The 37-year-old Texan set off 18th among the 180 riders who were rolling down the start ramp one-by-one in the race against the clock.

Armstrong took an early lead with a time of 20 minutes, 13 seconds for the 9.6-mile ride along winding and hilly roads in the Mediterranean principality.

But only 15 riders later, Germany’s Tony Martin outpaced Armstrong by 7 seconds. Then Armstrong’s Astana teammate Levi Leipheimer bettered that with a 20:03 clocking. Most of the time trial specialists and pre-race favorites were still to ride.

“I felt pretty good,” Armstrong said. “I was a little all over the place. … It was up, flat, it was down, it was a technical course. But I think overall, I felt good.

“I think the best way to sum it up is, I had a good time. I didn’t have any big illusions.”

The weather was hot and muggy as Skil-Shimano team rider Kenny Robert Van Hummel set off first. Some competitors said the downhill section to the finish was the major challenge.

“This is the toughest time trial of my career,” BBox Bouygues Telecom rider Said Haddou said after finishing. “The crucial spot is the descent. That’s really where you can mess up, win a lot of time or lose it.”

The individual time trial was likely to offer an early shakeout of potential title contenders. Specialists in the discipline include Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland and British rider Bradley Wiggins.

They could capture the race leader’s yellow jersey, though they aren’t expected to fare as well when the race reaches the Pyrenees in Stage 7.

The time trial was also likely to show right away whether Armstrong’s legs still have it and whether his mind is fully in the race. The Texan holds the record for Tour victories.

Among overall race hopefuls to watch were Cadel Evans of Australia, Russia’s Denis Menchov, and 2007 Tour champion Alberto Contador — who many see as the top pre-race favorite.

This 96th edition of the Tour will take riders over 2,150 miles and through six countries before the July 26 finish in Paris.