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 PLUMELEC, France (AP) - Alejandro Valverde of Spain won the first stage of the Tour de France on Saturday with a ride through flat country, the opening of a three-week race trying to restore its luster after years of doping scandals.
Valverde broke away from the pack at the end of the 123-mile leg from Brest to Plumelec and now has the distinction of wearing the leader's yellow jersey.
Valverde, who rides for the Caisse d'Epargne team and won the Dauphine Libere warmup race last month, was followed by Philippe Gilbert of Belgium and Jerome Pineau of France.
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