In a brilliant display of strategy and tactics, George Hincapie (USA) took over the lead of the Tour de France today, even though today’s 184.5km Stage 1 was won by Jimmy Caspar (FRA) of the Cofidis team.

Although Hincapie said that the day’s strategy did not include going after intermediate sprints (and therefore time bonuses), he saw an opportunity in the final sprint (just 9 km from the finish) and went for it. In doing so, the time bonus he earned was enough to put him in the yellow jersey at the end of the day.

The stage victory went to Jimmy Caspar who won the final sprint over better-known sprinters like Tom Boonen (who wasn’t even in the top 10 finishers today), to just beat out famous sprinters Robbie McEwen (AUS) and Erik Zabel (DE).

The man who started the day in yellow, Thor Hushovd (NOR), got a bit too close to the fans in the last 50 meters or so of the race. He was cut on his right arm by one of the promotional give-aways and had to be taken away in an ambulance. Nevertheless, he will race again on Monday.

So at the end of today’s stage, here is how the General Classification stacks up:

1. George Hincapie (USA) Discovery 04h:18′
2. Thor Hushovd (NOR) Credit Agricole +:02″
3. David Zabriskie (USA) CSC +06″
4. Sebastian Lang (DE) Gerolsteiner +06″
5. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne-Illes Balears +06″
6. Stuart O’Grady (AUS) CSC +06″
7. Michael Rogers (AUS) T-Mobile +08″
8. Paolo Savoldelli (ITA) Discovery +10″
9. Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak +11″
10. Benoit Vaugrenard (FRA) Francaise de Jeux +11″