LUXEMBOURG — Lance Armstrong's bid for a fourth straight Tour de France title might be helped by his loss in the first stage.

        Switzerland's Rubens Bertogliati won the opening stage Sunday, sprinting across the finish just ahead of Armstrong and the rest of the main pack.

        Bertogliati also took the leader's yellow jersey from Armstrong, who had won Saturday's prologue.

        Retaining the yellow jersey early in the race wasn't a priority for Armstrong, who isn't expected to bid for a commanding edge until the mountain stages later race.

        “If you have aspirations to have the lead in Paris, holding on to the yellow jersey now is not part of the game plan,” said Dan Osipow, director of operations for Armstrong's U.S.Postal team. “The jersey not only means more pressure, it means more work to defend it.”

        Armstrong has lost the yellow jersey once before — in 1999, the year of his first Tour title.

        “Lance Armstrong, tactically, would have an interest in seeing someone else take over the yellow jersey, so that someone else helps him lead the pack until the mountains,” Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc said.

        While Armstrong is the favorite to win the Tour, the early, flat stages provide other teams an opportunity steal the spotlight.

        “When there is a chance like this to take it, you have to go for it,” said Bertogliati, who picked up his first stage win in cycling's premier event.

        The Lampre-Daikin rider finished in 4 hours, 49 minutes and 16 seconds — the same time as the 121-rider pack.

        Bertogliati said claiming the yellow jersey is “a dream that has now come true.”

        Bertogliati finished with the same time as Armstrong, who placed 30th. The Swiss rider had 20 bonus seconds taken off for placing first, allowing him to move past Armstrong in the standings.

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