Zabriskie Takes Opening Stage of Tour de France

Two Americans - David Zabriskie and six-time champion Lance Armstrong - have ridden for the fastest times in the opening stage of the Tour de France.

Zabriskie finished the 19-kilometer individual time trial on France's western coast in 20:51.84 seconds, the fastest individual time trial result in Tour history.

Armstrong was only two seconds back (20:53.81). This is Armstrong's final Tour de France - he has said he will not race in cycling's premier event again.

Kazakhstan's Alexandre Vinokourov was third fastest, 0:53 seconds behind Zabriskie.

Vinokourov's T-Mobile teammate, perennial challenger Jan Ullrich of Germany finished in 12th place. He is 1:08 minutes off the lead. The second stage is Sunday and runs 181.5 kilometers (from Challans to Les Essarts). The tour ends in Paris on July 24.