TORONTO

Torontonian finishes first stage of Tour in 120th spot

The Associated Press Published Sunday, July 4, 2010 11:29AM EDT

The pack passes Haringvliet storm barrier, south western Netherlands, during the first stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 223,5 kilometers with start in Rotterdam, Netherlands and finish in Brussels, Belgium, Sunday July 4, 2010. (AP Photo / Christophe Ena)

Text:

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands - Torontonian Michael Barry finished the first stage of the Tour de France in the 120th spot, Sunday.

Barry was 1:08 back from the fastest time posted by Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara who is wearing the leader's yellow jersey after Tour de France riders raced through Belgian and Dutch lowlands.

Several crashes marred the first stage of the race, with Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso and David Millar of Britain falling off their bikes after a dog ran in front of the peloton.

Millar and Basso, who is returning to the Tour for the first time in four years after serving a doping ban, were back on their bikes following the crash that occurred about 56 kilometres after the start.

They were able to rejoin the main bunch with the help of their teammates.

Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria was 37th, 46 seconds off the pace. The top rider for the Canadian-owned Cervelo TestTeam was Lithuanian Ignatas Konovalovas, who was 33rd, 44 seconds behind the leader.

Manuel Cardoso of Portugal and Swiss rider Mathias Frank didn't start after being injured in crashes a day earlier on the rain-soaked streets of Rotterdam.

The three-week Tour ends July 25 in Paris.