Cancellara wins opener

The rider slumped exhausted in his seat and held his head in his hands after winning the stage after digging deep to repeat last year's opening-day victory.

Swiss Cancellara holds a one second advantage over Czech Roman Kreuziger with Germany's Tony Martin was third.

Following his third place in the recent Tour of Luxembourg, seven-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong finished off the pace, 29 seconds back in 44th place.

The RadioShack leader drew the biggest crowd at the warm-up zone before the race, with some 60 fans gathering around the team bus, one bearing a banner saying "Hope Rides Again."

"He didn't want to take any risks on the descent, but he said he had good feelings throughout the race," RadioShack spokesman Phillip Maertens said.

Eight seconds down on the fastest time set by Martin at the mid-way checkpoint on the course's single climb, Cancellara went all out on the fast, sweeping descent that followed.

"It was very close but a win's a win" the 2008 Olympic time trial champion and multiple world champion told reporters.

"I was close to seeing stars at the summit because of the effort but I gave it full gas on the descent nonetheless, hoping I could bring it all back.

"A prologue's never over till the finish, you have to calculate your strength well, and that's what I did."

"Lance did well in Luxembourg and I'm sure he'll do well in the stages to come," the 29-year-old Saxo Bank rider added.

The subject of speculation some riders may be using motors hidden in their bike frames -- something he and his team have denied -- Cancellara said there had been no pre-race inspection by officials of his bike.

"It wasn't necessary, there were no loud noises coming out of it," he joked.

"In any case, cycling doesn't need these stories and rumours. It has other problems."

The Tour of Switzerland ends on June 20 with an individual time trial in Liestal.