TDF: Dog causes crash

Brussels - Several crashes marred the first stage of the Tour de France on Sunday, with Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso and David Millar of Britain falling off their bikes after a dog ran in front of the peloton.

Millar and Basso, who is returning to the Tour for the first time in four years after serving a doping ban, were back on their bikes after the crash that occurred about 56 kilometers after the start. They were able to rejoin the main bunch with the help of their teammates.

Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara is wearing the leader's yellow jersey after the opening-day prologue time trial. Sunday's first stage is a 223.5-kilometer trek through Belgian and Dutch lowlands from Rotterdam to Brussels.

Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong is fourth overall and is the highest-placed of the expected title contenders in the 195-man.

Cancellara won the prologue with Armstrong 22 seconds behind and Alberto Contador, the 2009 winner and pre-race favorite, in sixth, 27 seconds back.

Portugal's Manuel Cardoso and Swiss rider Mathias Frank didn't start Sunday after crashing out with injuries on Saturday.

Australian Adam Hansen was also involved in a crash around the 40-kilometer mark and hurt his left collarbone.