Chris Froome moved up to fourth overall after a competitive ride in the stage 1b time trial at the Ruta del Sol.

The Brit stopped the clock in a time of 10 minutes and five seconds in Corla del Rio, 14 seconds back on eventual stage winner Javier Moreno.

That was good enough to move Team Sky’s team leader up to fourth overall, with Froome now sitting just eight seconds back on new race leader and rival Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo).

Pete Kennaugh produced an impressive ride with the intermediate sprints jersey on his shoulders, with 15th on the stage elevating the Manxman to sixth overall, 12 seconds back.

Vasil Kiryienka was the quickest Team Sky rider across the 8.2-kilometre blast in ninth, but it was Froome and Kennaugh who benefited on GC courtesy of finishing in a reduced 27-rider lead group on Wednesday morning.

Moreno (Movistar) set off mid-way through the 154-rider field and his time of 9:51 held up supremely to hand him victory. Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) came closest to the Spaniard, two seconds adrift, with Jerome Coppel (IAM Cycling) a further two back.

Kennaugh maintained his jersey on the stage, while Kanstantsin Siutsou also heads into Thursday wearing the green mountains jersey.

“That was a good way to blow out the cobwebs, a pretty technical, pretty fast time trial,” Froome said. “It’s nice to have a time trial in the first race of the season and given the kind of training I’ve been doing, I’m happy with what I achieved.

“I know I lost time to Alberto, he’s the most notable guy ahead of me but we’re still in February and still building up, so I’m happy with that.

“I didn’t take any risks, I used the straights to open up the legs and they felt good, now we’ll have to see how it goes in the mountains.

“All of us have objectives much later in the season, Alberto’s are a bit sooner with the Giro, he definitely seems to be in good shape.

“I’m going to keep going for it, the team is behind me all the way here and they did a fantastic job this morning."