Alberto Contador got his Tour de France off to a perfect start as he avoided the carnage in today's opening stage and finished safely in 22nd. Describing the stage as very dangerous, the Spaniard claimed that it was almost like a victory to get safely through the day.

Alberto Contador couldn't have wished for a better start to his Tour de France as he avoided all crashes in today's opening stage. The Tinkof-Saxo leader was highly pleased with the outcome.

"The team was really good and that's what's important these days," he said. "It was dangerous, not just in the end but throughout the entire stage, with very narrow roads and perhaps steeper than in the rest of Europe. That makes it much more difficult to brake, but we saved the day, which was never quiet due to the parcours and crashes and so I'm really happy. Reaching the finish without problems  on a stage like this is almost a victory.

"Tomorrow we have to be in front, like today, and to be focused at all times to keep it together, because the peloton will be split in many groups. We'll have to try have as many riders in the front as possible and see what happens.

“The sensations were good, but we must check it in the mountains. On a day like today is just a matter of being concentrated on the front."

“It was a very good start of the race for us as no one was injured and Michael [Rogers who was fifth] is already demonstrating good form," sports director Philippe Mauduit said. "It was a very unfortunate end of the stage to see the sprinters hit the deck and I hope they are all well and able to continue.

"But in general, it was a pleasant and actually less nervous first stage of the Tour compared to previous Tours where we have seen big groups of riders piling up on the road. And the amount of spectators along the roads was just amazing. It’s beautiful to witness this kind of support from the British fans and I just hope that they take care of each other and of the riders as well.

"Tomorrow’s stage is, in my eyes, an English version of Amstel Gold Race. It’s going to get tough and our focus is solely Alberto getting through safely."