The under-23 time trial world champion Antonia Niedermaier upheld her status as favourite to win the opening time trial of the inaugural Tour de l'Avenir Femmes on Monday.
The 20-year-old topped Britain's Anna Shackley and Shirin van Anrooij of the Netherlands in the hilly 14.8 kilometer test in Saint-Vallier.
Niedermaier will start stage 2 in the leader's yellow jersey, with Shackley at 14 seconds and Van Anrooij 23 seconds adrift in the overall standings. She also holds the best young riders' classification lead.
