Straight from the sound of the starting gun on today's 223 kilometer long first stage of Tour de France from Rotterdam (Holland) to Brussels (Belgium), home ground favorite Lars Boom (Rabobank) fired out like a cannonball and only Alan Perez (Euskatel) and Maarten Wynants (Quick Step) managed to catch his wheel.

The trio initiated a long breakaway which cut through a colorful ocean of Dutch and Belgian cycling enthusiasts who made the scenario look like a mountain stage. In the peloton, the sprinter teams took control of the pace and the front trio was never allowed much hope to last all the way.

However, it was a perfect scene for a big battle if given the right wind conditions which could have troubled the passing on the narrow roads on the coastline. But the storm never picked up and the drama on the Dutch dykes was cancelled.

Towards the end of the stage, Maarten Wynants (Quick Step) escaped from the front group but from the main field, Alexandr Pliuschin (Katusha) jumped out of his bike and joined the Belgian rider who truly insisted on making his mark on home soil. But the freedom in the front did not last and when HTC-Columbia went to the front, the duo was soon after.

Now, the stage was served for the sprinters and after a chaotic finish with three crashes within the final three kilometers, Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre) pushed his bike across the finish line taking stage one.

Andy finished in 117th place and is standing in the overall clasification in place 119 with 1:09 minutes to Fabian Cancellara.