Philippe Gilbert wins dramatic opening stage of Tour de France

TWO-time Tour de France runner-up Cadel Evans has finished second in the opening stage of this year's race won by Belgian Philippe Gilbert.

Philippe Gilbert

AUSTRALIA'S two-time Tour de France runner-up Cadel Evans has finished second in the opening stage of this year's enduro won by Belgian national champion Philippe Gilbert.

 Defending champion Alberto Contador finished almost 90 seconds down because of a mass crash involving a spectator 9km from the finish.

Gilbert, who dazzled fans by winning three classics races in April, sped ahead from the pack in the final several hundred meteres and kissed his jersey as he crossed the line.

“It was the last 500 metres, I had a lead ... (and) I went for it,” Gilbert said.

“It was an extreme effort and I was able to take advantage.”

Evans was three seconds behind while Norway's Thor Hushovd was third at six seconds, leading home the chasing pack.

Contador was back with the main bunch.

Today’s first stage of the 98th edition of cycling's most prestigious race took the 198-rider pack over 191.5km from La Barre-de-Monts to Mont des Alouettes in the western Vendee region.

The trio of Jeremy Roy, and Tour debutants Perrig Quemeneur and Lieuwe Westra led an early breakout from the off, but were gradually hauled back in by Gilbert's team with some 20km to go of the 191.5km run from Passage du Gois to Mont des Alouettes.

In a dramatic climax, the peloton was effectively sliced in two when an Astana rider clipped a stray spectator and rebounded into the main body of riders, including Contador, to cause a massive pile-up.

There was then another pile-up which cut the lead body of riders to around 30.

Stage 1 standings: 191.5km ride from Passage du Gois to Mont des Alouettes

1. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/OLO) 4h41min 31sec

2. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) at 0:03.

3. Thor Hushovd (NOR/GRM) 0:06.

4. Josi Joaquin Rojas (ESP/MOV) 0:06.

5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL/OLO) 0:06.

6. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) 0:06.

7. Andreas Kloden (GER/RSH) 0:06.

8. Rein Taaramae (EST/COF) 0:06.

9. Chris Horner (USA/RSH) 0:06.

10. Tony Martin (GER/HTC) 0:06.

AP/AFP