PLUMELEC, France — Alejandro Valverde is determined to contend for the Tour de France title. And the Tour de France is determined to run a clean race.
The Spaniard won the opening stage in a final sprint Saturday as cycling’s three-week showcase took a first step in trying to get beyond the doping scandals that for years have battered the race and the entire sport.
“I’ve achieved two of my objectives: to win a stage and to wear the yellow jersey,” Valverde said. “That’s done today. . . . It gives me peace of mind for the rest of the race.”
Valverde, fresh off winning last month’s Dauphine Libere and the Spanish championship, broke away from the pack at the end of the 123-mile leg from Brest to Plumelec.
“Valverde is just so good, that’s a perfect finish for him today,” said Britain’s David Millar of the U.S. team Garmin-Chipotle. “It was good to see him take control of the race and show he’s a proper champion.”
On a windy day marked by four crashes, Valverde was followed by Philippe Gilbert of Belgium and Jerome Pineau of France.
The top U.S. rider was Christian Vande Velde in 18th place.
“It was a bit too windy. It was a really nerve-wracking, dangerous day,” said George Hincapie, the Team Columbia rider who was on Lance Armstrong’s team during each of his record seven Tour wins.
The race covers more than 2,175 miles and ends in Paris on July 27, with Valverde among the favorites. He holds a lead over other expected contenders: Australia’s Cadel Evans and Luxembourg’s Frank Schleck are one second back. Russia’s Denis Menchov and Spain’s Carlos Sastre are seven seconds behind.
Valverde, who rides for the Caisse d’Epargne, finished in 4 hours, 36 minutes, 7 seconds.
