Tour de France Prologue: Early start for Wiggo in bid to beat the rain

Team Sky’s Bradley Wiggins and Edvald Boasson Hagen will be among the earlier starters in the Tour de France Prologue in Rotterdam this afternoon as the British ProTour outfit, making its debut in pro cycling’s biggest race, takes a gamble on the weather.

Usually, you’d expect Wiggins, winner of the Maglia Rosa in the opening stage individual time trial of the Giro d’Italia in Amsterdam a couple of months ago, to be the last Team Sky rider out on the course.

But with the weather forecast predicting the greatest chance of showers in the evening, Dave Brailsford’s outfit is clearly leaving nothing to chance on a technical course that includes a dozen corners.

Instead, Spaniard Juan Antonio Flecha will be the final Team Sky rider to go down the starting ramp at 18.29 UK time, a full two and a half hours after his team leader, who goes at 15.55. The first rider out on the course is Iban Mayoz Echeverria of Footon-Servetto, who heads off at 15.15.

The early start for Team Sky’s leader means that British cycling fans, many of whom were disappointed when TV coverage of his ride to claim the race lead in the Giro cut to an advert as he headed for the line, may again miss the chance to see Wiggins claim victory.

It’s not just Team Sky that have been taking note of the weather forecast, either, with time trial specialists such as Levi Leipheimer, Tony Martin, David Zabriskie and Christian Vandevelde all choosing an early slot.

Flecha, who follows Ivan Basso onto the course, will be the fourth to last rider to attempt the 8.9km route around Rotterdam’s harbour. The final three are seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, prologue favourite and World Time Trial Champion Fabian Cancellara, who has claimed the race’s first yellow jersey the last three times it has started outside France, and defending champion Alberto Contador.

If Wiggins has set the fastest time of the afternoon and the rain is coming down as that trio set out on the three-week race, the British rider could be forgiven for allowing himself a wry smile.

The full list of starters, with all timings given in UK time, is shown below.

Tour de France Prologue, Rotterdam, 8.9km

1 Iban Mayoz Echeverria (Spa) Footon-Servetto 15:15
2 Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 15:16
3 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Rabobank 15:17
4 Juan Jose Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 15:18
5 Stéphane Auge (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 15:19
6 Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 15:20
7 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 15:21
8 Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Milram 15:22
9 Maarten Wijnants (Bel) Quick Step 15:23
10 Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 15:24
11 Tony Martin (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia 15:25
12 Mario Aerts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 15:26
13 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Cervelo Test Team 15:27
14 Dimitri Champion (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 15:28
15 Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Team Katusha 15:29
16 Anthony Roux (Fra) Française des Jeux 15:30
17 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Transitions 15:31
18 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Doimo 15:32
19 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling Team 15:33
20 Grégory Rast (Swi) Team Radioshack 15:34
21 Matti Breschel (Den) Team Saxo Bank 15:35
22 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana 15:36
23 Aitor Perez Arrieta (Spa) Footon-Servetto 15:37
24 Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 15:38
25 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank 15:39
26 Iban Velasco Murillo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 15:40
27 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 15:41
28 Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Caisse d'Epargne 15:42
29 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 15:43
30 Roger Kluge (Ger) Team Milram 15:44
31 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step 15:45
32 Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing Team 15:46
33 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia 15:47
34 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Omega Pharma-Lotto 15:48
35 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Cervelo Test Team 15:49
36 Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 15:50
37 Pavel Brutt (Rus) Team Katusha 15:51
38 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Française des Jeux 15:52
39 David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Transitions 15:53
40 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 15:54
41 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 15:55
42 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Team Radioshack 15:56
43 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 15:57
44 Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spa) Astana 15:58
45 Jose Alberto Benitez Roman (Spa) Footon-Servetto 15:59
46 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 16:00
47 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank 16:01
48 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 16:02
49 Christophe Kern (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 16:03
50 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 16:04
51 Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 16:05
52 Luke Roberts (Aus) Team Milram 16:06
53 Francesco Reda (Ita) Quick Step 16:07
54 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing Team 16:08
55 Adam Hansen (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia 16:09
56 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto 16:10
57 Daniel Lloyd (GBr) Cervelo Test Team 16:11
58 Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 16:12
59 Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Team Katusha 16:13
60 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux 16:14
61 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Transitions 16:15
62 Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 16:16
63 Thomas Löfkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling Team 16:17
64 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 16:18
65 Chris Anker Sørensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 16:19
66 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 16:20
67 Manuel Cardoso (Spa) Footon-Servetto 16:21
68 Simon Spilak (Slo) Lampre-Farnese Vini 16:22
69 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank 16:23
70 Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 16:24
71 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 16:25
72 Mathieu Perget (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 16:26
73 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 16:27
74 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Team Milram 16:28
75 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 16:29
76 Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing Team 16:30
77 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team HTC - Columbia 16:31
78 Charles Wegelius (GBr) Omega Pharma-Lotto 16:32
79 Andreas Klier (Ger) Cervelo Test Team 16:33
80 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale 16:34
81 Alexandr Pliuschin (Mda) Team Katusha 16:35
82 Rémy Di Grégorio (Fra) Française des Jeux 16:36
83 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions 16:37
84 Brian Vandborg (Den) Liquigas-Doimo 16:38
85 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 16:39
86 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Team Radioshack 16:40
87 Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 16:41
88 Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Astana 16:42
89 Fabio Felline (Ita) Footon-Servetto 16:43
90 Adriano Malori (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 16:44
91 Juan Manuel Gárate Cepa (Spa) Rabobank 16:45
92 Inaki Isasi Flores (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 16:46
93 Julien El Farès (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 16:47
94 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 16:48
95 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 16:49
96 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram 16:50
97 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step 16:51
98 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team 16:52
99 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia 16:53
100 Francis De Greef (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 16:54
101 Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team Withdrawn
102 David Lelay (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 16:56
103 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha 16:57
104 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française des Jeux 16:58
105 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Cervelo Test Team 16:59
106 Kristjan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Doimo 17:00
107 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Sky Professional Cycling Team 17:01
108 Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack 17:02
109 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank 17:03
110 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana 17:04
111 Markus Eibegger (Aut) Footon-Servetto 17:05
112 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre-Farnese Vini 17:06
113 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 17:07
114 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 17:08
115 Damien Monier (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 17:09
116 Rui Alberto Faria da Costa (Por) Caisse d'Epargne 17:10
117 Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 17:11
118 Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Team Milram 17:12
119 Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Quick Step 17:13
120 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing Team 17:14
121 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team HTC - Columbia 17:15
122 Daniel Lloyd (GBr) Cervelo Test Team 17:16
123 Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Cervelo Test Team 17:17
124 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 17:18
125 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha 17:19
126 Benoït Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux 17:20
127 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - Transitions 17:21
128 Alexander Kuschynski (Blr) Liquigas-Doimo 17:22
129 Michael Barry (Can) Sky Professional Cycling Team 17:23
130 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack 17:24
131 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Team Saxo Bank 17:25
132 Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Astana 17:26
133 Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Footon-Servetto 17:27
134 Grega Bole (Slo) Lampre-Farnese Vini 17:28
135 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank 17:29
136 Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 17:30
137 Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 17:31
138 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 17:32
139 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 17:33
140 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram 17:34
141 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick Step 17:35
142 Karsten Kroon (Ned) BMC Racing Team 17:36
143 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia 17:37
144 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 17:38
145 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Cervelo Test Team 17:39
146 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 17:40
147 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team Katusha 17:41
148 Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française des Jeux 17:42
149 David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Transitions 17:43
150 Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 17:44
151 Serge Pauwels (Ned) Sky Professional Cycling Team 17:45
152 Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Team Radioshack 17:46
153 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 17:47
154 David De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Astana 17:48
155 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Footon-Servetto 17:49
156 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 17:50
157 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 17:51
158 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 17:52
159 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 17:53
160 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 17:54
161 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 17:55
162 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram 17:56
163 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step 17:57
164 George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team 17:58
165 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team HTC - Columbia 17:59
166 Mickael Delage (Fra) Omega Pharma-Lotto 18:00
167 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 18:01
168 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 18:02
169 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 18:03
170 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 18:04
171 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Garmin - Transitions 18:05
172 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 18:06
173 Steven Cummings (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 18:07
174 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team Radioshack 18:08
175 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 18:09
176 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana 18:10
177 Arkaitz Duran Daroca (Spa) Footon-Servetto 18:11
178 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 18:12
179 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 18:13
180 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 18:14
181 Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 18:15
182 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 18:16
183 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 18:17
184 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram 18:18
185 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step 18:19
186 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 18:20
187 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia 18:21
188 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 18:22
189 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 18:23
190 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 18:24
191 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha 18:25
192 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux 18:26
193 Julian Dean (NZl) Garmin - Transitions 18:27
194 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 18:28
195 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky Professional Cycling Team 18:29
196 Lance Armstrong (USA) Team Radioshack 18:30
197 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 18:31
198 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 18:32