4 Jul 2011

World champion takes Tour de France lead

10:02 am on 4 July 2011

Thor Hushovd swapped his world champion's jersey for the Tour de France yellow thanks to his Garmin-Cervelo team mates who won the second stage of the race, a 23 kilometre time trial.

The American team clocked the fastest time over the windswept course by four seconds, and the Norwegian took the leaders jersey after finishing third on the opening stage.

Hushovd's lead could be short-lived as he is under threat from his Scottish teammate David Millar who shares the same time, and Australia's Cadel Evans, who's only one second behind going into tonight's 198 kilometre stage.

Three times winner Alberto Contador is 75th overall, one minute 42 seconds down on the leader, after being held up by a major pileup on the first stage.