Operation Yellow began in earnest today when La Grand Bouclé opened with a road stage rather than the traditional prologue typically employed to kick off the three-week race. Leopard Trek set out to guide the Schleck brothers through the flat, nervous first stage with a short, steep kicker at the finish. The goal was to stay safe and avoid allowing any gaps to open. Two massive pile-ups in the final ten kilometers of racing proved to be critical turning points in the stage.

Categorized as a flat stage despite the small climb at the finish, the 191.5 kilometer route between Passage du Gois and Mont des Alouettes played out as predicted until late in the race. The field allowed an early break of three riders to enjoy 170 kilometers out front where they gained a maximum advantage of nearly six minutes. When the peloton overtook the break, with 20 kilometers left to race, the field picked up the pace and the race favorites scrambled to make their way toward the front to ensure their safety.

As the pack flew along at an increasing pace, an Astana rider clipped a spectator on the right side of the course. The rider tumbled left and caused a crash to domino across the entire road.

“It was a hectic moment when the crash came,” said Andy Schleck. “We were lucky to be at the front when the crash happened. We heard the noise from behind. There was no communication.”

The pile-up caused the field to split into two large groups with around fifty riders forming the lead group on the road. The Schlecks, Linus Gerdemann, Fabian Cancellara, Jakob Fuglsang and Stuart O’Grady made the front group.

“When a crash happens while we are going 65 kilometers per hour, it’s impossible to see who is there or who isn’t there,” explained Andy. “We knew it was important to go full gas because there would be riders left behind. It wasn’t until later that we learned [Alberto] Contador was in the second group.”

A second crash would split the front group further.

“Again there was a crash, and this time I was stuck behind the riders who went down,” Andy noted. “I came to the finish line [1:20 down] with a group of riders who had been involved with both crashes.”

Luckily, the second crash came within the final three kilometers of the race. According the 2011 Tour de France rulebook, today’s stage falls under the three kilometer rule. This rule states: “In the event that a rider or riders suffer a fall, puncture or mechanical incident in the last 3 kilometres and such an incident is duly recognised, the rider or riders involved are crediting with the same finishing time as the rider or riders they were with at the time of the incident.”

The application of Article 20 gives Andy, O'Grady and Fuglsang, along with the the others involved in the second crash, the same stage finishing time as the lead group.

“Andy won some valualbe time to Alberto Contador today,” said Sports Director Kim Andersen. “This is to our advantage, but we are aware it could have been one of our riders left out. This highlights the need to be attentive even in the first week of racing.”

While crashes marred the finish for many, a hotly contested stage victory was up for grabs ahead. Cancellara, who has dominated the opening prologue of Tour de France pasts, decided to attempt the win on the opening road stage.

Seven hundred meters from the finish, Cancellara surged out of the pack. Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma - Lotto) jumped from behind to overtake Cancellara at the 400 meter mark. Gilbert took the win, and the yellow jersey, three seconds ahead of Cadel Evans (BMC) and six seconds ahead of Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervélo). Fränk Schleck, Linus Gerdemann and Cancellara all finished within the top-20.

Stage two sees the return of the team time trial. While the collective race of truth is short, at only 23 kilometers, it requires full effort and concentration.