Stage winner Cancellara adds to his collection

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

The Olympic time trial gold medalist, Swiss champion and former world champion, left pre-Tour favorite 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 favorite 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.

"I came here to win this opener in Monte Carlo. Now that I''ve achieved this, I hope we will keep the yellow jersey and even strengthen it until the team time trial.

"We also have Frank and Andy Schleck in the team to take it all the way to Paris," he said.

Among those well beaten by Cancellara were seven-times champion Lance Armstrong, who finished 10th, 40 seconds behind, in his first Tour since 2005.

"I don''t look at Lance or Alberto or other riders. I ride for myself. I think I''ve proved I was the best time trial rider in the world for the past couple of years, Cancellara said.

"Time passes. I''ll get older too and young riders will arrive and beat me."

(Editing by Alison Wildey)