Frenchman Jimmy Casper has clinched his first victory in the Tour de France after outsprinting the favourites, including Australian Robbie McEwen, to win the first stage.

American George Hincapie, who earned two bonus seconds in the third intermediate sprint, took the overall leader's yellow jersey from Norway's Thor Hushovd.

Hushovd, who won Saturday's prologue ahead of Hincapie, suffered a serious arm injury during the mass sprint finish and crashed after crossing the line.

Casper, riding for the Cofidis team, surged as he approached the line at the end of a 184.5-km loop from and back to Strasbourg, with an incursion into Germany.

Australia's McEwen, winner of three sprint finishes during the last Giro d'Italia, was second just ahead of German Erik Zabel (Milram), who claimed the green jersey for a record six times consecutively from 1996 and 2001.

The result of the first road stage of the Tour meant the yellow jersey would be worn again by a Discovery Channel rider for the first time since Lance Armstrong retired last year after winning his seventh consecutive Tour de France.

"Yesterday I was very disappointed because I wanted this yellow jersey so badly," said New Yorker Hincapie.

"Today it's a dream coming true. When I saw the breakaway was caught, I knew I had a chance to grab seconds in the last intermediate sprint."

Casper, whose victory gave him the green jersey, said: "It's the most beautiful day in my life.

"The door opened at the right time for me in this sprint. I hope I can repeat this feat."

Hushovd, the overnight leader wearing the yellow jersey, suffered a deep cut to his right arm inflicted by some advertising paraphernalia - a big cardboard green hand - being held by a fan behind the barriers.

The 28-year-old Credit Agricole rider was flown by helicopter to hospital where a five-centimetre long cut was stitched. He was released less than two hours later.

Sprint rival Tom Boonen came into contact with a spectators' camera in a mass sprint to the finish.

Both he and Belgian Boonen are fit and ready to take part in the second stage, which will take the peloton over 228.5km from Obernai to Esch-sur-Alzette in Luxembourg.

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