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First stage for Dennis with fastest time trial in Tour history

Xinhua, July 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

BMC rider Rohan Dennis won the first stage of the Tour de France on Saturday in Utrecht, the Netherlands, with the fastest ever individual time trial/prologue in Tour history.

Dennis recorded an average speed of 54.45 kilometers per hour in the stage of 13.8 kilometers in the streets of Utrecht to grab his first stage win in "La Grance Boucle".

The 25-year-old Australian will now start the second stage, also in the Netherlands, from Utrecht to Neeltje Jans, in the province of Zeeland, in the yellow leaders jersey.

Germany's Tony Martin (Etixx-Quick-Step) came in second on 5 seconds, Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara (Trek) finished third on 6 seconds and local favorite Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) had to settle for the fourth place on 8 seconds.

Despite the warm temperature of above 30 degrees Celsius the Tour start in Utrecht attracted 350,000 spectators along the track. It was the sixth time the Tour de France started in the Netherlands. On Monday the peloton will leave the country again to move into Belgium for the third stage.

The Tour will finish on July 26 in Paris. Endit