Cancellara wins prologue and Armstrong finishes strongly as Tour de France begins in Rotterdam

Cancellara wins Tour de France prologue

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Fabian Cancellara has won the Tour de France prologue and Lance Armstrong finishing strongly to start what the Texan says is his last Tour.

Cancellara was fastest among the 197 riders in Saturday’s individual time-trial along 5.5-miles of rain-dampened roads in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam.

Riders set off one-by-one down the starter’s ramp for the race against the clock. Reigning champion Alberto Contador of Spain went last and finished with a slightly slower time than Armstrong, his rival and seven-time Tour winner.

The three-week race ends July 25 in Paris.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — The 97th Tour de France has started with 197 riders setting off one-by-one for the time trial in Rotterdam.

Spanish newcomer Iban Mayoz started first in the 5.5-mile race against the clock in the Dutch port city under drizzly weather.

As reigning Tour champion, Spain’s Alberto Contador is set to ride last, just after Swiss time-trial specialist Fabian Cancellara and seven-time champ Lance Armstrong. The Texan has said it’s his last Tour.

Before the start, Cervelo TestTeam said its rider Xavier Florencio was suspended from competing for using a substance that contained the banned stimulant Ephedrine.

The three-week race takes riders through Belgium, across northern France, into the Alps and the Pyrenees before the July 25 finish in Paris.