With prologue in past, American riders optimistic

~ Hincapie, who rode with the seven-time champ, finished second in Saturday's prologue to send an early message.

STRASBOURG, France -- With the first Tour de France of the post-Lance Armstrong era rocked by one of the worst doping scandals in cycling's history, American riders may be in good position to take advantage of the depleted field.

On Saturday, George Hincapie lost by a split second to big Norwegian sprinter Thor Hushovd in the opening time trial of the sport's premier race. David Zabriskie placed third and Floyd Landis was ninth, making the United States the only country with three racers in the top 10.

"This is the first year I'm going to try and see what I can do," said Hincapie, the only rider to race with Armstrong on his record seven straight Tour wins. "I know I've trained hard, I don't know how far I can go. But I'm ready and I started the Tour well, and I just hope I can continue to improve."

The Tour was still reeling from the previous day, when 1997 winner Jan Ullrich and Tour of Italy champion Ivan Basso were among nine riders sent home for suspected doping. It was the biggest drug scandal to hit the sport in years, perhaps ever.

Hincapie, Landis and Levi Leipheimer, another American who was 36th in Saturday's race against the clock over 4.4 miles, find their chances of succeeding Armstrong enhanced now that the top four behind Armstrong from last year -- Basso, Ullrich, Francisco Mancebo and Alexandre Vinokourov -- are out.

Hincapie showed he can be a force in the high mountains that come later in the three-week race by winning a brutal stage in the Pyrenees last year. He was the first of Armstrong's many support riders over the years to win an individual stage.

Hincapie, 33, said he'd wanted to win Saturday's trial-trial loop through the eastern French city of Strasbourg. But Hushovd found the extra edge on the long straightaways and tight corners. He and Hincapie officially had the same time of 8 minutes, 17 seconds.

"Today was my first big objective, so I'm a little disappointed," Hincapie said.

Hushovd donned the leader's coveted yellow jersey that was last worn by Armstrong on the Champs-Elysees in Paris last year. But he isn't a contender for the overall title because he struggles to get his powerful frame over high mountain passes. Instead, his goal is to win sprint stages in the first week and defend the green jersey he won last year as the Tour's top sprinter.

"I've been really confident the last few weeks, the last month, because I knew my form was there," Hushovd said.

Several other favorites did well: Spain's Alejandro Valverde finished fifth, and American Floyd Landis, another former Armstrong teammate, placed ninth.