The Tour’s first stage was a time trial in Utrecht, a distance of 13.8 kilometers, or just over 8.5 miles. Dennis, needed 14 minutes, 56 seconds to complete the flat course, which set his speed at 55.446 kilometers per hour, or about 34.5 mph.
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Dennis, 25, beat the time-trial record of 55.2km/h by British rider Chris Boardman over a 7.2km course in 1994.
Tony Martin finshed second, with Swiss veteran Fabian Cancellara third and Dutch favorite Tom Dumoulin in fourth.
Vincenzo Nibali was best among Tour favorites, finishing 43 seconds behind Dennis. Former Tour champion Chris Froome finished 37th, 50 seconds behind Dennis. Alberto Contador was 58 seconds back in 46th. Nairo Quintana was 61 seconds adrift in 53rd.
“It was my goal to do well,” Dennis told media members after the race. “It was pretty smooth. It was very long on the way home. I kept thinking 16 minutes because that was my time at training. In the end I got one minute bonus.”
— Contributing: Ray Slover
