(AP) France The Tour de France got underway Saturday as Lance Armstrong started his quest for a seventh straight title before retiring from cycling.

First to start the opening stage was French rider Ludovic Turpin, who set off under gray skies and moderate winds in the 11.8-mile time trial from Fromentine to Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile.

Armstrong can strike an immediate blow in his bid for a seventh Tour crown. Victory in the time trial, or even a quicker time than his main rivals, would send a clear message that he is still the man to chase.

However, a below-par performance would give fresh hope to the likes of Jan Ullrich, Alexandre Vinokourov and Ivan Basso, whom Armstrong rates as his main challengers.

Though Armstrong said the time trial course wasn't very complicated, he still had first-day jitters.

"Of course I'm a bit nervous," he said. "It's a real race today, I'm nervous."

Armstrong and Ullrich have both studied the course.

But Ullrich already ran into trouble.

The 1997 Tour winner and five-time runner-up crashed into the back of his T-Mobile team car Friday when he failed to spot a warning sign to brake. He fell forward through the back window and sustained minor cuts to his neck, but is expected to take the start line.

He appeared later in the day when all the teams were presented and did his best to look cool and confident.

"Jan is an excellent rider and he gets better as the Tour goes on," Armstrong said, adding that Ullrich's team appears slick and menacing. "They have three riders who have already been on the podium. We expect them to be very tough."

Vinokourov might also be a threat.

© MMV The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Back To Top