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Belgian wins first stage of the 2011 Tour de France

The Associated Press Published Saturday, July 2, 2011 12:25PM EDT

Philippe Gilbert of Belgium celebrates taking the overall leader's yellow jersey on the podium of the first stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 191 kilometres starting in Passage du Gois and finishing in Mont des Alouettes, les Herbiers, western France, Saturday July 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

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MONT DES ALOUETTES, France - Philippe Gilbert won Saturday's first stage of the Tour de France to take the yellow jersey -- as defending champion Alberto Contador lost more than a minute because of a late crash.

The Belgian rider, who dazzled fans by winning three classics races in April, sped ahead from the pack in the final several hundred metres and kissed his jersey as he crossed the line.

"It was the last 500 metres, I had a lead ... (and) I went for it," Gilbert said. "It was an extreme effort and I was able to take advantage."

Two-time Tour runner-up Cadel Evans of Australia was second, and Norway's Thor Hushovd was third.

The first stage of the 98th edition of cycling's most prestigious race took the 198-rider pack over 191.5 kilometres from La Barre-de-Monts to Mont des Alouettes in the western Vendee region.