Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar) had finished runner-up to Luis León Sánchez at the Spanish ITT championships for the last two years. Today, he turned the tables around to take his first rojigualda (red-yellow) jersey.

On the 44 km, the Basque showed strength and consistency throughout the course, being ahead of Sanchez at all intermediate times and finally beating him by 45 seconds. Castroviejo was not the only Movistar rider on fire today - Rubén Plaza rounded out the podium, and Alejandro Valverde, Eloy Teruel and Jesús Herrada also finished in the top-ten.

Castroviejo said after his win: “I found myself really strong all day. I had finished twice second in the last two years but I came in better physical condition to this year's race, with the only goal of winning the race. It was a beautiful course and a technical one - you had to distribute your energy well over it. There was a steady climb in the beginning and you couldn't give everything there. Then, there was much wind halfway through the course and it made it harder - it was the crucial point to win or lose, because the final part was almost downhill, and a matter of keeping the gaps. I had all references I needed and knew that I had to keep calm into the climb. I did and came through it with the same time as ‘Luisle’ - since that point, I kept taking time on him. After my TT in Dauphiné, I was quite confident, and I proved today my condition was good. I'm feeling well these days and I hope to do well in the Tour.”

Result:

1. Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar) 54:52

2. Luis León Sánchez (Blanco) +0:45

3. Rubén Plaza (Movistar) +1:46

4. Ion Izagirre (Euskaltel-Euskadi) +2:03

5. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) +2:03

6. Eloy Teruel (Movistar) +2:24

7. Jesús Herrada (Movistar) +3:04

8. Alejandro Marque (OFM-Quinta da Lixa) +3:13

9. Markel Irizar (RadioShack-Leopard) +3:53

10. Omar Fraile (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) +3:57