Cycling: Ukraine's Serhiy Honchar struck a blow for T-Mobile in the first real test of the Tour de France today, winning a 52-km time-trial from St Gregoire to Rennes by more than a minute.
The 2000 time trial world champion clocked one hour one minute 43 seconds to take the overall leader's yellow jersey from world champion Tom Boonen who finished 41st, 3:52 off the pace.
American Floyd Landis (Phonak) survived an early puncture to grab second place, 1:01 adrift of Honchar, on a catastrophic day for his compatriots and the Discovery Channel team.
T-Mobile, without team leader Jan Ullrich who is the subject of a doping investigation, were in a class of their own with six riders in the top 20.
In the overall standings, Honchar enjoys a one-minute lead over Landis with Australian Cadel Evans and Russian Denis Menchov eighth and ninth respectively.
George Hincapie, who was Lance Armstrong's lieutenant when the Texan won his seven Tours from 1999 to 2005 before retiring, was a distant 24th, 2:42 behind Honchar.
The highest placed Discovery Channel rider was Paolo Salvodelli of Italy in 19th.
Gerolsteiner rider Levi Leipheimer, who was among the Tour favourites after winning the Dauphine Libere last month, had his hopes dashed when the American finished 6:05 behind the winner.
Compatriot David Zabriskie, who was the seventh stage's hot favourite, ended a disppointing 13th, 1:57 behind, according to provisional results.
American Bobby Julich, third overall in 1998, pulled out of the race after suffering a right wrist injury following a crash.
Tomorrow's eighth stage will take the peloton over 181 kms from St Meen-le-Grand to Lorient. PA