Veteran Jacky Durand staked his claim for a place in this year's Tour de France by winning the first stage of the Dauphine Libere on Monday.

The former French champion, 35, parted company with the main bunch after 17km of the 173km stage, taking with him Spanish climber Alexis Rodriguez.

By the halfway mark the pair held a lead of more than 15 minutes, although Durand eventually crossed the finish line just 34 seconds ahead of the main pack after outsprinting Rodriguez.

It was a second successive stage victory for French team La Francaise des Jeux after Australian Bradley McGee won the prologue in Lyon.

"A week ago, I thought I would take my holidays in July and it was not great news," said Durand, whose season has been hampered by two crashes and a bout of flu.

1. Jacky Durand (France) Francaise des Jeux Four hours 38 minutes and 19 seconds
2. Alexis Rodriguez (Spain) Kelme same time
3. Stefan Van Dijk (Netherlands) Lotto-Adecco 34 seconds behind
4. Francois Simon (France) Bonjour
5. Baden Cooke (Australia) Francaise des Jeux
6. Guennadi Mikhailov (Russia) Lotto-Adecco
7. Nico Mattan (Belgium) Cofidis
8. Alexei Sivakov (Russia) Bigmat-Auber
9. Richard Virenque (France) Domo-Farm Frites
10. Bradley McGee (Australia) Francaise des Jeux all same time

Overall standings:
1. Jacky Durand (France) Francaise des Jeux Four hours 42 minutes and 22 seconds
2. Alexis Rodriguez (Spain) Kelme 19 seconds behind
3. Bradley McGee (Australia) Francaise des Jeux 45
4. Baden Cooke (Australia) Francaise des Jeux 46
5. Steffen Kjaergaard (Norway) U.S. Postal 47
6. Sylvain Chavanel (France) Bonjour 48
7. Stefan Van Dijk (Netherlands) Lotto-Adecco 49
8. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) U.S. Postal same time
9. Nico Mattan (Belgium) Cofidis same time
10. Olivier Asmaker (France) CSC-Tiscali 50