Stage winner Cancellara adds to his collection

MONACO (Reuters) - Fabian Cancellara added a yellow jersey to his formidable collection of honours when he outclassed the rest of the peloton to win the 15.5-km Tour de France opener on Saturday.

The Olympic time trial gold medallist, Swiss champion and former world champion, left pre-Tour favourite Alberto Contador 18 seconds adrift in the time trial.

"It was hot and damp like in Beijing. I'm not saying that this is even better than the Olympics but this is Monaco, this is the Tour and I was wearing the same bib number as in London," Cancellara told reporters.

The 2007 Tour start in London ago was another career highlight for the time trial specialist, who won the prologue and kept the leader's yellow jersey for a week that year.

The 28-year-old won his first Tour curtain raiser in 2004 in Liege.

"I did not go as fast as a Formula One car but it was close," joked Cancellara after stage, which was partly held on the course of the Monaco Grand Prix.

The Saxo Bank rider was the favourite on the docks of Monaco's old port after winning the Tour of Switzerland and his national road title.

"I'm in great shape and it was obvious, with such form, that if I played it well, I would be hard to beat," said the 2006 and 2007 time trial world champion.

The win allowed his Saxo Bank team to retain the yellow jersey last held by Spain's Carlos Sastre, the defending champion who now rides for Cervelo.