Valverde gets better of Wiggins and Sky in Ruta del Sol

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) won the prologue at the Ruta del Sol today, mounting a strong start to the defence of his title.

The Spaniard was the last man to start the 7.3km prologue around Almeria with the time of his team mate Jon Izaguirre as a target. Izaguirre himself had set a time four seconds faster than Team Sky's Vasil Kiryienka who had been at the top of the leaderboard for some time.

Kiryienka's time had held strong even as his team mates Geraint Thomas and Bradley Wiggins crossed the line. the pair were one second slower than the Belarusian suggesting his time might be good enough to win.

But then Izaguirre and soon after Tom Dumoulin beat his time, before Valverde came in 13 seconds faster than Kiryienka.

Tomorrow's stage heads through the mountains with six classified climbs on the 186.8km route. The race finishes on Sunday in Fuengirola.

RESULT

Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol: prologue. Almeria to Almeria 7.3km

1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar in 8-22

2. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Shimano at 7 secs

3. Jon Izaguirre (Spa) Movistar at 9 secs

4. Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky at 13 secs

5. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky at 14 secs

6. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Sky at 14 secs

7. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky at 15 secs

8. Javier Moreno (Spa) Movistar at 15 secs

9. Simon Geschke (Ger) Giant-Shimano at 16 secs

10. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Trek Factory Racing at 16 secs

Overall classification after prologue

1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar in 8-22

2. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Shimano at 7 secs

3. Jon Izaguirre (Spa) Movistar at 9 secs

4. Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky at 13 secs

5. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky at 14 secs

6. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Sky at 14 secs

7. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky at 15 secs

8. Javier Moreno (Spa) Movistar at 15 secs

9. Simon Geschke (Ger) Giant-Shimano at 16 secs

10. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Trek Factory Racing at 16 secs