Tour de France under way with short prologue in Dutch port city

Tour de France begins in Netherlands

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — 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.