Paris - Nice, Stage 1, Amilly - Amilly Individual Time Trial - BikeRadar

Stage 1: Amilly - Amilly individual time trial 9km

Paris-Nice 1: Alberto Contador wins wet opener

Alberto Contador flies to victory in the very wet first stage of Paris-Nice (AFP/Getty Images)

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Alberto Contador (Astana) showed his class once again by winning the opening stage of the 67th edition of Paris-Nice. Contador beat Bradley Wiggins (Garmin - Slipstream) by seven seconds on the 9.3-kilometre course made dangerous by constant rain throughout the day.

Spanish champion Luis-Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) rounded out the podium. Tony Martin (Columbia-Highroad) finished fourth and leads the young rider classification.

Nobody was surprised about Contador's win - except Contador himself. "I am a good time trialist, but this was a short distance, a flat course, not really my thing, and then against all those time trial specialists..." Contador also blamed the weather for a sub-standard ride. "With the rain, I did not take extreme risks in the corners. Of course, everybody had the same bad weather conditions. I am becoming more and more a complete rider."

Despite tests in San Diego and subsequent news that Contador had changed his time trial position, Contador emphasised that he rode as always. "No, I did not change anything on my position on the bike. It is exactly the same as in 2008."

Contador won the race in 2007 and he left little doubt that in 2009 any potential winning candidate must challenge the Spaniard. "For tomorrow's stage we will have to be attentive to defend the jersey," continued Contador. "Although this yellow jersey is nice, it is more important for us to have that jersey next Sunday in Nice."

For full results, report and photos, visit Cyclingnews.com. To read Cyclingnews's blow-by-blow coverage, click here.

STAGE 1 RESULTS