Cancellara wins Tour de France prologue, while Armstrong impressive in finishing 4th

Cancellara wins Tour prologue; Armstrong 4th

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland won the prologue of the Tour de France on Saturday, while seven-time champion Lance Armstrong finished an impressive fourth.

Cancellara clocked 10 minutes even for the individual time trial along 5.5 miles of rain-dampened roads in Rotterdam.

Armstrong was 22 seconds behind, but rode faster than rival Alberto Contador of Spain — the defending Tour champion and runaway pre-race favorite. The Texan has said this will be his last Tour.

Riders set off one by one down the starter’s ramp for the race against the clock. Contador went last — right before Cancellara and Armstrong.

Tony Martin of Germany led for most of the day and ended up second, 10 seconds behind Cancellara, while David Millar of Britain placed third, 20 seconds off the pace.

Cancellara will don the race leader’s yellow jersey for Sunday’s 138.9-mile first stage across wind-swept lowlands from Rotterdam to Brussels.

The three-week race ends on July 25 in Paris.