Le Tour De France is off and running with Fabian Cancellara snatching victory but it was a good day for the British riders with two in the top five.
Today saw the prologue stage of the 97th Tour in Rotterdam.
Crowds with estimates of around the 50,000 mark along had been making their way to the best vantage point around the 8.9km circuit since about 11am, whilst the world's media, which included the television companies who were expecting to having worldwide viewing figures in the hundreds of millions, were being looked after at the highly impressive Ahoy Complex, a few yards from the finish line.
The 197 riders (Carvelo's Xavier Florencio did not start) signed in pouring rain which stopped before Iban Mayoz (11.09) started at 4.15pm local time.
The rain meant slippery roads and HTC Colombia rider Tony Martin, who recorded an early fastest time of 10.10, said to Covsupport News Service: "Yes I had problems and this was not the best of rides for me but I can do better.
Tony Martin
"Parts of the road were wet and I could not see but it is the same for everyone."
Unfortunately, those in the dry watching on TV were more informed about who had the best race times.
Bradley Wiggins shot through and sped off completely refusing to speak to any media. Carvelo Test Team's Daniel Lloyd was also the same but Omega Lotto's Yorkshireman Charles Weglius admitted that he was happy with his ride.
Charles Weglius
The British Champion Geraint Thomas arrived shortly afterwards, not knowing that he was in then second place and he told Covsupport News Service that being the British Champion was an honour and the feeling did not get much better. Thomas who admitted he has dedicated his life to cycling said of his prologue performance:"I gave everything and we'll see where I finish. Then we will sit down with the directors and pick it apart. "Ed and Brad told me it was f*****g hard out here."
Mark Cavendish shot through and disappeared through a park without speaking but Garmin's David Millar said: "The course today was fine. I had no problems and really enjoyed it."
Australian Brett Lancaster was interviewed by our good mates. working for SBS and he told them: "The course was wet but that is cycling. I had a few problems with my back wheel slipping out but it was good to get started."
David Millar also did not know how well he had done, having gone second behind Tony Martin. He did not have a problem with the course and told Covsupport News Service: "It was fine. I had no problems and really enjoyed it."
That was in contrast to what Team Sky's Steve Cummings said and he described the course as dangerous when wet and admitted to taking chances but it was not good.
With the sun now out, we reached the business end of the stage. Lance Armstrong finished in third place and after slowing down, he headed back for his Radio Shack team bus being chased by reporters, fans and two police officers on horseback.
As this was happening, attention was on the course as Swiss time trial supremo and usual TDF Prologue winner Fabian Cancellara absolutely flew over the line to finish in ten minutes dead, knocking ten seconds off Tony Martin's time and taking the yellow with David Millar taking the green jersey's.
1 Fabian Cancellara 10.00
2 Tony Martin 10.10
3 David Millar 10.20
4 Lance Armstrong 10.22
5 Geraint Thomas 10.23
47 Nicholas Roche 10.49
77 Bradley Wiggins 10.56
113 Steve Cummings 11.07
126 Charles Weglius 11.10
127 Mark Cavendish 11.10
139 Jeremy Hunt 11.13
177 Daniel Lloyd 11.23
Rotterdam waves goodbye to the tour in the morning as it departs for Brussels at noon local time.
You can follow the tour live everyday via our friends at ITV4 and British Eurosport.
Pictures will appear here later.