Posted: Jul 4, 2010 6:19 PM by Jordan Mason
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - Alessandro Petacchi has won the first stage of the Tour de France in a sprint, while Lance Armstrong and other top contenders trailing in the pack in a day marred by
several crashes.
Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara appeared set to retain the leader's yellow jersey after Sunday's 139-mile trek through flat Belgian and Dutch lowlands from Rotterdam to Brussels.
Overall standings were not immediately available.
Cancellara won Saturday's prologue to the three-week race. Armstrong placed fourth - 22 seconds back. Defending Tour champion Alberto Contador of Spain was sixth, 27 seconds behind.
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