MEAUX (France), July 6: Italian Alessandro Petacchi won a mass sprint tarnished by a bad crash to snatch victory in the 168-km first stage of the Tour de France from Montgeron to Meaux on Sunday.

Winner of six stages in the this year’s Giro d’Italia, the Fassa Bortolo rider beat Australian Robbie McEwen and German Erik Zabel on the finish line to show he would be a serious contender for the points classification.

Australian Bradley McGee, winner of Saturday’s prologue, retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey despite being caught in the crash caused by Spaniard Jose-Enrique Guttierez 250 metres from the finish line.

The FDJeux.com rider even took his lead over second-placed Briton David Millar to four seconds after grabbing a two seconds bonus in an intermediate sprint early in the stage.

Monday’s second stage takes the riders from La Ferte-sous-Jouare to Sedan over 204 km.

Leading first stage results:

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Italy) Fassa Bortolo three hours 44 minutes 33 seconds; 2. Robbie McEwen (Australia) Lotto; 2. Erik Zabel (Germany) Team Telekom; 4. Paolo Bettini (Italy) Quick Step; 5. Baden Cooke (Australia) FDJeux.com; 6. Thor Hushovd (Norway) Credit Agricole; 7. Oscar Freire (Spain) Rabobank; 8. Luca Paolini (Italy) Quick Step; 9. Romans Vainsteins (Latvia) Vini Caldirola; 10. Jaan Kirsipuu (Estonia) Ag2r; 11. Rene Haselbacheraut (Austria) Gerolsteiner; 12. Damien Nazon (France) Brioches; 13. Stuart O’Grady (Australia) Credit Agricole; 14. Jean-Patrick Nazon (France) Jean Delatour; 15. Gerrit Glomser (Austria) Saeco; 16. Fabrizio Guidi (Italy) Team Bianchi; 17. Carlos Da Cruz (France) FDJeaux.com; 18. Mederic Clain (France) Cofidis; 19. Alexandre Botcharov (Russia) Ag2r; 20. Angel Vicioso (Spain) ONCE; 21. Angelo Furlan (Italy) Alessio; 22. Robert Hunter (South Africa) Rabobank; 23. Marco Velo (Italy) Fassa Bortolo; 24. Samuel Sanchez (Spain) Euskaltel; 25. Anthony Geslin (France) Brioches; 26. Jerome Pineau (France) Brioches; 27. Jan Ullrich (Germany) Team Bianchi; 28. Laurent Brochard (France) Ag2r; 29. Leon Van Bon (Netherlands) Lotto; 30. Sebastien Hinault (France) Credit Agricole all same time.—Reuters