Gilbert wins first stage of Tour de France

Belgium's Philippe Gilbert seized the Tour de France race leader's yellow jersey with victory in Les Herbiers today.

The Omega Pharma-Lotto rider was favourite for the 191.5-kilometre first stage from Passage du Gois to Mont des Alouettes, overlooking Les Herbiers, as the Tour opened with a road stage, rather than the usual prologue time-trial, for the just the second time since 1966.