Cycling-Stage winner Dennis a menace to Tour’s top guns (Reuters)
* Australian victorious in opening time trial * That’s a huge goal achieved, says Dennis By Martyn Herman UTRECHT, Netherlands, July 4 (Reuters) – Australian Rohan Dennis proved too hot to handle as the Tour de France began with a record-breaking 13.8-km individual time trial through the sweltering streets of Utrecht on Saturday. The 38th of the 198 competitors to roll down the start ramp, the BMC Racing Team rider averaged 55.446 kph as he blasted round the cycle-mad city in 14 minutes 56 seconds. Dennis completed his white-knuckle ride in the highest average speed for a Tour de France individual time trial since Briton Chris Boardman’s effort over 7-km in Lille in 1994, and it gave him ownership of the coveted yellow jersey for a day at least.