If Chris Boardman had not justified his position as favourite in the prologue time trial, there would not have been much for him in the Tour. He is not a contender for overall honours and this was his big event of the year.

The Englishman rose to the occasion in great style - "You get just the one chance in a short event like this and I had to get everything right" - and for the third time became the first holder of the yellow jersey. His six minutes 12 seconds for the 5.6 km circuit through Dublin city centre was four seconds better than his nearest rival, Abraham Olano (Banesto), with Laurent Jalabert (ONCE) best of a group of four on 6:17.

Boardman, riding for the GAN team, and the other top men were using the latest in high-tech bikes and although the early starters had to contend with rain, no riders fell and the course was described as ideal.

`The first man off, Denis Leproux (Big Mat), set a target of 6:43, which was not beaten until the seventh rider, Philippe Gaumont (Cofidis), recorded 6:32. Christophe Moreau (Festina), off number 83, clocked 6:17.32 and that remained the best time until American Bobby Julich (Cofidis) - off at 176 - was a fraction better with 6:17.29.

Alex Zuelle (Festina) could manage only 6:19, with Bjarne Riis (Telekom) on 6:26, before Olano took the lead with 6:16. Jalabert was timed at 6:17.05 before Boardman, fourth last off, finished with 6:12.

Tour of Italy winner Marco Pantani (Mercatone Uno) was next but his time of seven minutes was better than only seven riders, ranking him 181st. Richard Virenque (Festina) was 14th with 6:24 and then all attention was on the final starter, last year's overall winner Jan Ullrich (Telekom).

The 24-year-old German did not appear to be putting everything into his effort as he freewheeled around some corners but was still sixth with 6:17.

Festina had three men - Moreau, Zuelle and Dufaux - in the top eight and Virenque was 14th, but the drugs find cast a cloud over their placings.