Gilbert wins first stage of Tour

Dates: Saturday 2 July - Sunday 24 JulyCoverage: Listen live to every stage finish on the BBC Sport website (UK only); live text commentary on key stages; updates on BBC Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extraGet involved: Tweet with the hashtag #bbcTdF to join the discussion Gilbert is the first Belgian to lead the general, points and mountain classification since Eddy Merckx in 1969 Belgium's Philippe Gilbert won a thrilling and incident-packed opening stage of the 2011 Tour de France.

Gilbert raced away on the uphill finish of the 191.5km leg through the Vendee region to take the yellow jersey.

Defending champion Alberto Contador of Spain was delayed by a pile-up 9km from the finish and is 80 seconds adrift.

Australia's Cadel Evans was second while Britain's Geraint Thomas (sixth) and Bradley Wiggins (50th) were awarded the same time and are six seconds back.

The three other Britons in the race, David Millar (16th), Mark Cavendish (69th) and Ben Swift (70th), were also credited with finishing six seconds behind the winner and with Sunday's team time trial next up, all five are in with a realistic chance of finishing the weekend wearing the yellow jersey.

Team Sky, which contains Thomas, Wiggins and Swift, are expected to do well in Sunday's 23km stage around Les Essarts and the Welshman, who is blogging from the race for BBC Sport, said: "The team time trial is what I enjoy.

"It's like what I've been doing on the track - it's very similar to the team pursuit - and I can't wait for it.

"Obviously we've got a great team for it and we just want to get out there, give it our best, ride it well and hopefully that'll be enough to win the stage. We've got a great chance."

The traditional Tour de France opening prologue stage, a short individual time trial, was ditched in favour of a longer leg by race organisers in an effort to provide a more exciting opening to this year's Tour and give more riders an opportunity of victory.

To try to involve sprinters in more than just the stage finish, organisers have also decreed that each stage will have only one intermediate sprint, putting 20 green jersey points on offer for the first man over the line and judging by the opening stage, their plan appears to be working.

A three-man break jumped out of the peloton immediately after the ceremonial start across the Passage du Gois causeway on the Atlantic coast.

French duo Jeremy Roy and Perrig Quemeneur and Dutchman Lieuwe Estra were allowed to open up a six-minute lead by the chasing pack and the trio were first through the day's intermediate sprint after 87km - Roy collecting 20 points for first place.

A huge sprint ensued for the fourth place which was won by Garmin rider Tyler Farrar, who collected 13 points, with Andre Greipel fifth.

Britain's Cavendish appeared to sit up after being passed by Farrar and he finished in 11th, to collect five points, one more than last year's green jersey winner Alessandro Petacchi.

The opening stage will be remembered, though, for its crashes.

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I've never won any stages. I've never had this yellow jersey before so, for me, it's a very good day

Stage winner Philippe Gilbert

Jurgen van de Walle suffered cuts in a heavy fall early on in the stage but the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider was soon back in the saddle and leading the peloton, blood dripping down his leg and arm.

However, the most decisive coming together came with 9km remaning when an Astana rider clipped a spectator who was looking the wrong way and around two dozen riders were sent tumbling onto the Tarmac and into the roadside ditches.

Among those delayed by the crash was Contador, who would eventually finish 82nd.

Wiggins and twice runner-up Andy Schleck escaped that initial collision but they were among a group caught up in another accident nearer the finish.

However, as that crash was within three kilometres of the line, they were credited with the time of third-place finisher Thor Hushovd.

Nobody was going to catch Gilbert though. The 28-year-old, who in 2011 became only the second man to win all three of the Ardennes Classics in the same year, powered his way up Mont des Alouettes, holding off attacks from Alexandre Vinokourov and Fabian Cancellara.

"To win here in the Tour de France is something special," said Gilbert.

"I've never won any stages. I've never had this yellow jersey before so, for me, it's a very good day."

Stage 1 result:

1. Philippe Gilbert (Bel/Omega Pharma) 4h 41 min 31 sec

2. Cadel Evans (Aus/BMC Racing) +03"

3. Thor Hushovd (Nor/Garmin) +06"

4. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa/Movistar) same time

5. Juergen van den Broeck (Bel/Omega Pharma) same time

6. Geraint Thomas (GB/Team Sky) same time

7. Andreas Kloden (Ger/Radioshack) same time

8. Rein Taaramae (Est/Cofidis) same time

9. Christopher Horner (US/Radioshack) same time

10. Tony Martin (Ger/HTC-Highroad) same time

Selected others:

16. David Millar (GB/Garmin-Cervelo) +06"

19. Nicolas Roche (Ire/AG2R) same time

33. Andy Schleck (Lux/Leopard-Trek) same time

50. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Team Sky) same time

69. Mark Cavendish (GB/HTC-Highroad) same time

70. Ben Swift (GB/Team Sky) same time

82. Alberto Contador (Spa/Saxo Bank) +01'20"

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Duke and Duchess begin first tour

30 June 2011 Last updated at 14:39 GMT The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge board their plane at Heathrow Airport in London The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are due to touch down in Canada on their first official overseas tour.

Prince William and his wife Kate left London's Heathrow Airport on Thursday morning on a Royal Canadian Air Force jet bound for Ottawa, due to arrive at 1400 local time (1900 BST).

The Duchess wore a navy dress by French designer Roland Mouret and a blazer by Canadian label Smythe les Vestes.

The couple will visit seven Canadian cities before heading to the US.

Their first official duty will be to lay a wreath at Canada's National War Museum, before being officially welcomed and attending a barbecue hosted by Canada's governor general, David Johnston.

Canada is a member of the Commonwealth and Queen Elizabeth II is its head of state.

On 1 July, the Duke and Duchess will celebrate Canada's national day. Thousands of people are expected to gather on Ottawa's streets to glimpse the royal couple.

The new royal flag created by Canada for the visit

The pair will also visit Quebec, Prince Edward Island - where they are to participate in a dragon boat race - and Calgary.

In Calgary they will open the Calgary Stampede - an annual rodeo and festival dubbed the "Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth".

Canada has created a new royal flag for the visit. It features three maple leaves - from Canada's national tree - at its base.

The flag will be flying from the cockpit of the jet carrying the royal couple when they touch down on Thursday afternoon. It will also fly from their cars and buildings they are visiting or staying in.

Continue reading the main story 30 June: Arrival in Ottawa. 1 July: Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa2 July: Visit to a cookery school in Montreal3 July: Freedom of the city ceremony in Quebec City4 July: Prince William takes part in Sea King helicopter training session on Prince Edward Island5 July: Visit to Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories7 July: Arrival in Calgary8 July: Attend Calgary Stampede. Leave for USThe visit will be closely followed by the media, with nearly 1,400 journalists - including about 100 from Britain - accredited to cover the visit.

BBC Royal Correspondent Peter Hunt says Canada is a safe first visit for a royal spreading her new wings, while US residents continue to be fascinated by Britain's royalty.

The cost of the visit to the Canadian government, not including security, is estimated to be 1.4 million Canadian dollars (?958,580).

A poll commissioned by the Toronto Star newspaper found that more than half the 18 to 34 year-olds questioned about the visit were indifferent about the trip.

Canadian secretary to the Queen Kevin MacLeod, who has co-ordinated the tour, said: "I think, given the dynamism of this couple, (they) continue to reaffirm the important role the Crown plays in this country."

The Duke and Duchess will travel to the US state of California for two days from 8 July, attending a black-tie Bafta reception and dinner in Los Angeles on 9 July. William is Bafta's president.

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Taiwan marks China tourism first

28 June 2011 Last updated at 11:23 GMT By Cindy Sui BBC News, Taipei Tourists were offered traditional Taiwanese gifts as they arrived Some 300 independent tourists have arrived in Taiwan from China - the first time in decades mainland tourists have been allowed to roam on their own.

Tightly controlled tour groups have been permitted in recent years, but mainlanders are now allowed to visit independently.

Taiwanese officials say they expect a major boost in revenue from tourism.

The move is another sign of warming relations since the election of Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou in 2008.

In many countries, it is normal for tourists to be able to travel around on their own. But decades of tensions between Taiwan and mainland China have only recently subsided.

China sees Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force if the island ever moved to declare formal independence.

Spying worries

The tourists were showered with media attention and handed gifts including Taiwanese pineapple cakes and bubble milk tea when they arrived.

Previously, the island had feared the tourists would overstay their visas, work illegally or spy on Taiwan. But such fears have given way to hopes of an economic boon from independent Chinese tourists.

Officials estimate the island could earn $300-600m (?188-375m) a year from the independent travellers.

But Beijing and Taipei are not embarking on this major move without caution. For now, only 500 such travellers are allowed to enter Taiwan each day and only those from the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen.

Although Taiwan is concerned Chinese spies will now have easier access, the restrictions seem to be coming mostly from the Chinese side.

The tourists must first get permission from China's police before they can visit Taiwan.

That is because unlike the 4,000 Chinese tourists who come here on group tours each day, independent Chinese travellers can do practically anything they want once they get here - including linking up with Taiwan-based Chinese dissidents, Tibetan activists and members of the Falungong spiritual group, which is banned in China.

But many of the tourists who arrived on Tuesday said they simply wanted to see the island at their own pace, while others wanted to visit relatives.

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Ai Weiwei gets first family visit

16 May 2011 Last updated at 06:22 GMT Ai Weiwei was arrested trying to board a Hong Kong-bound plane out of Beijing The detained Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has been allowed his first contact with his family since his arrest more than 40 days ago.

The artist met his wife at an unknown location on Sunday and told her he is well, his sister told the BBC.

Mr Ai is said to be under investigation for suspected "economic crimes".

The artist is a vocal critic of the government, complaining about a lack of basic freedoms and often incorporating these political themes into his work.

Ai Weiwei's wife Lu Qing was taken by Chinese police to meet her husband on Sunday afternoon.

The artist's sister told the BBC Lu Qing was summoned to a police station and taken to another location where she was allowed a brief meeting with her husband.

Continue reading the main story Supported online campaign to compile names of children who died in 2008 Sichuan earthquake - many in schools whose construction was allegedly compromised due to corruptionIn August 2009, beaten up by police in Sichuan while trying to testify for dissident Tan ZuorenAlthough a co-designer of Beijing's Bird's Nest Olympics stadium, he later disavowed the project, condemning China's hosting of the Games as "fake and hypocritical" His frequently censored blog was read by 10,000 people a day until shut down by authorities in May 2009Ai Weiwei is a "maverick" who "chooses to have a different attitude from ordinary people toward law", the Global Times said on WednesdayMrs Lu does not know where that location was, but thinks it was only used for the meeting - she said she did not believe her husband was being held there.

She reported that Mr Ai told her those holding him were taking good care of him, he was healthy and she should not worry.

However the meeting was very brief, she said, and there were many other people present, some of them taking notes, so she was afraid to talk much more with her husband.

The family were then warned by police not to discuss the visit with the media as they were told it could "be bad for Mr Ai's case".

His family had been demanding to know if he was safe and well as more than 43 days have passed since Mr Ai was detained by police at Beijing's airport, says the BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Beijing.

He had not been allowed any contact with his lawyers or his family.

Calls by artists and governments worldwide for information had not produced any response from China's authorities.

China's foreign ministry has insisted that Mr Ai's case has "nothing to do with human rights or freedom of expression".

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