Wout Poels wins opening time trial at Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana

Team Sky's Wout Poels and Vasil Kiryienka finish first and third in the opening stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana

Wout Poels in action during Stage 1 of the 2016 Tour of Valencia

(Image credit: Watson)

World time trial champion Vasil Kiryienka was upstaged by one of his own teammates in his first test against the clock of 2016 at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, finishing 21 seconds down on Wout Poels in third.

Poels will wear the leader's jersey on stage two of the race, which returns after an eight-year hiatus, after a storming performance over the 16.25km course between Benicassim and Oropesa del Mar.

Chris Froome's trusted lieutenant at the 2015 Tour de France finished 15 seconds ahead of Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) in a star-studded field that was surprisingly light on time triallists.

Astana and Sky shared the first four spots, with Diego Rosa finishing a second behind Kiryienka in fourth, with Gazprom-Rusvelo's Artem Ovechkin the only non-WorldTour rider to break the top 15.

Wout Poels on the podium following Stage 1 of the 2016 Tour of Valencia

Wout Poels on the podium following Stage 1 of the 2016 Tour of Valencia
(Image credit: Watson)

Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, stage one: Benicassim-Oropesa del Mar (16.25km)

1. Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky, 22-34

2. Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp) Astana, at 15s

3. Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky, at 21s

4. Diego Rosa (Ita) Astana, at 22s

5. Jesus Herrada (Esp) Movistar, at 26s

6. Victor Campenaerts (Bel) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 27s

7. Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx-Quick Step, st

8. Leopold Konig (Cze) Team Sky, at 29s

9. Reto Hollenstein (Swi) IAM Cycling, at 30s

10. Imanol Erviti (Esp) Movistar, at 30

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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.