Mikel opens Tour with 12th spot

Mikel Astarloza is on track for his goal, a top ten position in the Tour de France. In the opening prologue he finished 12th, 44 seconds behind the expected winner Fabian Cancellara. He left some important names behind him like the Schleck brothers, Menchov, Kirchen and last year's winner Sastre. The other guys all performed like they used to, Oroz did good too with a 30th spot. Koldo saved himself for the sprint of tomorrow, where he will have to face big guns like Cavendish, Freire, Boonen, Hushovd and other Tyler Farrars.

Results
1. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank 19:32
2. Alberto Contador Astana +0:18
3. Bradley Wiggins Garmin +0:19
...
12. Mikel Astarloza +0:44
30. Juan Jose Oroz +01:14
32. Gorka Verdugo +01:15
54. Haimar Zubeldia +1:31
69. Igor Anton +1:38
82. Amets Txurruka +1:45
115. Egoi Martinez +1:59
145. Ruben Perez +2:19
162. Alan Perez +2:35
168. Koldo Fernandez +2:40