ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Lance Armstrong could hardly have imagined a better start to what he’s calling his last Tour de France.
The Texan placed an impressive fourth in the short opening time trial, shrugging off renewed doping allegations to dust several other likely podium contenders as well as edge rival Alberto Contador, the defending champion and prerace favorite.
Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara, the world and Olympic time trial champion, collected a fourth Tour prologue win, clocking 10 minutes even for the 5.5-mile ride.
Armstrong trailed 22 seconds back in fourth, but the American bested Contador by five seconds.
Armstrong’s solid performance was certain to brighten spirits within the RadioShack team on a day that started with new claims by former teammate Floyd Landis that the seven-time Tour champ was once involved in doping.
The 38-year-old Armstrong sought to focus on the racing.
“In my heart, that was a surprise,” Armstrong said. “I wanted to have a decent day in the time trial, and I was not the best out there today.”
Some potential Tour title contenders were already facing disappointment.
Britain’s Bradley Wiggins, an Olympic gold medalist and strong time-trial rider who was fourth in last year’s Tour, was 77th overall — 56 seconds behind Cancellara.
Andy Schleck, who finished second in last year’s Tour de France — one rung above Armstrong on the podium — placed 112th, 1:09 back.
