Valverde gets better of Wiggins and Sky in Ruta del Sol
Movistar's leader Valverde takes the win at the Ruta del Sol as Team Sky place four riders in the top ten - Wiggins sixth fastest on the same time as Geraint Thomas - Richie Porte in eighth place

Alejandro Valverde wins 2014 Ruta del Sol prologue

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
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
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
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Editor of Cycling Weekly magazine, Simon has been working at the title since 2001. He fell in love with cycling 1989 when watching the Tour de France on Channel 4, started racing in 1995 and in 2000 he spent one season racing in Belgium. During his time at CW (and Cycle Sport magazine) he has written product reviews, fitness features, pro interviews, race coverage and news. He has covered the Tour de France more times than he can remember along with two Olympic Games and many other international and UK domestic races. He became the 130-year-old magazine's 13th editor in 2015.
-
“I feel proud racing guys I used to watch on TV” says French teenage sensation Paul Seixas after climbing to 6th in Critérium du Dauphiné GC
As Romain Bardet prepares to bow out, 18-year-old Paul Seixas looks well prepared to take up his stage racing baton
-
Tadej Pogačar: I didn’t like Visma’s dangerous tactics on the Croix de Fer descent but that’s modern cycling
Pogačar unhappy with rival team's approach during Critérium du Dauphiné's queen stage, as Jonas Vingegaard says “I hope that this race can help me get better"
-
Bradley Wiggins announces new book: 'The most honest and personal one I've ever written'
Wiggins's latest autobiography, 'The Chain', will be published on 25 October
-
French kit brand Ekoï launches kit collaboration with Bradley Wiggins
Wiggins says partnership is his 'reintroduction to cycling' and marks the second phase of his life
-
'I was doing loads of cocaine... my kids were going to put me into rehab': Bradley Wiggins on recreational drug use, Lance Armstrong's help and finding a new love for cycling
Wiggins opens up on the personal trauma which engulfed him post-retirement and put him in some 'very dangerous' situations after he became addicted to cocaine
-
'Lance has helped me a lot in recent years' - Armstrong offered to pay for Bradley Wiggins' therapy
2012 Tour de France winner says he is in the 'best place' he has been his whole life in interview
-
Claims against bankrupt Sir Bradley Wiggins’s estate double to £2m
Wiggins’s efforts to pursue money through the courts have been paused
-
Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins to reunite on the bike to raise money for US hurricane relief
The British knights will be joined by Jan Ullrich at the Gran Fondo Hincapie next week
-
Bradley Wiggins 'a little bit nervous' as he returns to cycling
Former Tour de France winner set to ride bike again for first time in almost three years
-
'I should have paid more attention to my financial affairs' - Bradley Wiggins opens up about bankruptcy
Former Tour de France winner was declared bankrupt in June