Vuelta a Espana: Chris Froome & Team Sky 11th as Movistar win

Movistar were last to go, but finished six seconds clear

Briton Chris Froome's Team Sky could only finish 11th as Nairo Quintana's Movistar team claimed the opening day's team time trial at the Vuelta a Espana.

Movistar, last off the ramp, finished six seconds clear over the 12.6km circuit in Jerez de la Frontera.

They picked up 19 seconds over Alberto Contador's Tinkoff-Saxo squad and 27 over Froome and Team Sky.

Jonathan Castroviejo crossed the line first for Movistar to take the leader's red jersey.

Orica-GreenEdge set the early mark after being powered towards the line by 22-year-old Briton Adam Yates.

But there was a surprise when Cannondale, in their final Grand Tour before merging with Garmin-Sharp at the end of the season, pipped them by a single second.

Italian team Cannondale claimed second in the team time trial

That time held until the very end, when Movistar - who also have former Vuelta winner Alejandro Valverde in their squad - surged towards the line, having turned a five-second deficit at the mid-point into a six-second lead.

Six former Grand Tour winners are in a strong field for this year's Vuelta, although defending champion Chris Horner withdrew as he recovers from illness.

Not even Tony Martin could help Omega Pharma-Quick Step keep up with Movistar, meaning Rigoberto Uran has already conceded 11 seconds to compatriot Quintana.

Former Tour winner Cadel Evans and his BMC Racing team gave up 21 seconds to finish two places ahead of Sky.

Astana's Fabio Aru finds himself 30 seconds in arrears, while Katusha's Joaquin Rodriguez is 38 seconds down.

Garmin-Sharp, who include Ryder Hesjedal, Dan Martin and Andrew Talansky, dropped even more time, conceding 41 seconds.

The second stage is a 174.4km run from Algeciras to San Fernando.

Stage 1 results:

1. Movistar 14mins 13secs

2. Cannondale +6secs

3. Orica

4. Trek +9secs

5. Omega Pharma - Quick-Step +11secs

6. Giant +16secs

7. Tinkoff - Saxo +19secs

8. Belkin

9. BMC Racing +21secs

10. Lampre +25secs

Selected:

11. Team Sky + 27secs