Millar expects swift jersey handover

Scotland's David Millar was in a borrowed green jersey as the Tour de France took to the road today.

The 33-year-old Scot finished third in the 8.9-kilometre prologue yesterday and was wearing a maillot vert reserved for his Team Garmin-Transitions colleague Tyler Farrar for the 223.5km stage from Rotterdam to Brussels.

Millar finished 20 seconds behind Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) and 10 adrift of Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia), who took the yellow jersey and white jersey, respectively.

But rather than bid for the race leader’s maillot jaune, Millar will ride in support of his team-mate Farrar, the American who is seeking to upset Mark Cavendish’s point classification bid.

“I hate the green jersey,” quipped Millar, whose bike was covered in green.

“I’m saving it for Ty (Farrar), but it fits me fine.

“We actually have the shorts, helmet, everything, but I’m not even wearing it officially.”

Millar then confidently predicted Farrar will win today’s stage – expected to end in a bunch sprint – in Belgium.

“Tyler will be in it (the green jersey) tomorrow,” said Millar, who will be a key member of the Team Garmin-Transitions lead-out train.

“He’s the best sprinter in the world currently.”

Millar has worn all four of the Tour’s jerseys – yellow for overall, polka dot for King of the Mountains, white for best young rider and green for points – and last took the maillot vert in 2003.

However, he will sacrifice his personal goals for team ambitions in the 97th Tour.

“I’d like to win a stage – that’s my goal,” he said.

“I don’t care which one it is – be it a road stage or the last time-trial (on July 24).

“The last time-trial I’d like to go really well.

“I might actually save myself in the days going into that and give myself a treat.

“That’s it really. I’ve got such an important role to play for Tyler and Christian (Vande Velde), which leaves me very little room for myself.

“It’s a pure bonus if I get anything personal out of it.”

Millar, who won the prologue and yellow jersey in his first Tour in 2000, was pleased with his opening-day display.

“The morning ride means nothing, the day before means nothing, it’s only when I get on the home trainer beforehand I know,” he said.

“I was like ’thank God’.”

Vande Velde was 92nd yesterday, 60 seconds behind Cancellara but only four adrift of Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky), whose ride in the wet was cautious before the later starters enjoyed dry conditions.

With Frank Schleck and Andy Schleck (both Team Saxo Bank) also well down, Millar anticipates a topsy-turvy first week in the general classification standings.

He said: “We’re going to hit the first mountain stage with people all over the place, in random places.

“It will make for a great race, one way or another.”