Millar’s dark clouds drift away after claiming podium in Tour de France’s first stage

Millar set the pace for threequarters of the 207 kilometre route from Tower Bridge to Canterbury - and at one stage opened a six-minute advantage on the peloton.

As the gap eventually closed and it became clear the stage would be decided on a sprint finish, Millar turned his attention to landing the polka dot jersey - awarded to the 'king of the mountains'.

There are not too many of those in Kent, but Millar earned five points from the three categorised climbs through the North Downs and described the achievement as one of the biggest in his career.

Millar's efforts lifted him from 13th to third in the overall standings - while Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara, who won the prologue in London, retained the leader's yellow jersey.

The stage win went to Australian Robbie McEwen, who stormed to the front in a thrilling sprint finish after recovering from a crash with 22km to go.

Millar has been struggling for confidence and admitted on Friday he was entering the Tour riddled with self doubt''.

But after finishing 13th in the prologue, he was determined to mark the unique occasion of the Grand Depart coming to British soil by standing on the podium.

I was in a dark and angry mood and felt like I wanted to do something. I thought 'you know what, I'm going to go on a suicide mission'. And it ended up being productive,'' said Millar, whose only other polka dot jersey came in the 1999 Tour of Valencia.

I under-estimated how overwhelmed I was (when a million people lined the streets of London for the prologue).

Even, with all the people, it was starting to stress me out. I only got really happy when I was on the bike in the race.

I really enjoyed it out on the road - but I can't handle all that stuff around it. I don't know how the Beckhams deal with it!

I was at my tactical best. I chose the time to attack at the beginning perfectly. Everything I did was planned out. Even when I dropped off a break late on, it was to guarantee I got this jersey.

I am so grateful. You only get one opportunity in your life to do something like that.'' Millar was touched by the support he received the length of the route, particularly given his past.

The Scot was banned for two years between 2004-2006 after admitting to use of the blood-boosting steroid EPO.

It has been amazing. There were flags, and everyone was shouting my name - and it was nice to hear it in an English accent!'' he laughed.

Britain's hope in the sprint was T-Mobile's Mark Cavendish - but his chances were dashed by a crash 25km from home.

It happened when I was coming up the climb. There was a big group of spectators at the side of the road. The next thing I know I'm on the floor. The bike was trashed,'' he said.

Cavendish was furious. He needed to change bikes twice, and team officials in the support car had to urge the 21-year-old Tour debutant to calm down.

The decision was that Cavendish was too far back to catch the peloton, and T-Mobile wanted him to channel his obvious anger and frustration into today's stage from Dunkirk.

Sure, he was angry. This was a big dream for him to come here and win a stage on his home turf,'' said Cavendish's T-Mobile boss Bob Stapleton. But that was his first hand of cards. He will be around for a few more hands in this race.

He is better off spending that energy tomorrow than in a desperate attempt to get back into the race today''.

While Cavendish had been left on his own at the back of the pack, McEwen was with his team Predictor Lotto team-mates when he fell.

The Australian sprint specialist feared he had broken his wrist when he went down and struggled to grip the handlebars.

But he surged through the peloton with a stunning final 300m to secure a famous victory.

I don't know how I did it,'' he said on the finish line, his right hand purple and swollen.

It's unbelievable. It hurts everywhere. I did not think I had a chance in the sprint - but I found the energy in the anger and frustration."