Alejandro Valverde has proved that he is fully ready for the upcoming Tour de France by taking a dominant victory at the Spanish time trial championships. In an excellent Movistar showing that saw the team occupy the first 6 spots, he beat Ion Izagirre by 0.56 and defending champion Jonathan Castroviejo 1.04 to claim his first title.

Some people expressed slight concern when Alejandro Valverde returned to competition after a long break and failed to win the Route du Sud overall, having been firmly beaten by Nicolas Roche. Today, however, he firmly put any kind of doubt to rest when he took a dominant victory in the Spanish time trial championships.

On the 47.1km course in Ponferrada that will host the Worlds later this year, Valverde was in a class of his own and claimed a commanding first ever title in the discipline that has never been one of his favourites. At the first check, he was only third, trailing teammate Imanol Erviti by 6 seconds and defending champion and teammate Jonathan Castroviejo by 3 seconds, but from there he dropped the hammer.

At the second check, he was 24 seconds up on Castroviejo while Erviti had drifted to third, one secon further behind. At the finish, Valverde had increased his advantage even more, beating a fast-finishing Ion Izagirre by 56 seconds while Castroviejo had to settle for third in his title defence.

Valverde led a dominant Movistar performance that saw the team occupy the entire top 6, with Jesus Herrada, Erviti and Benat Intxausti finishing just behind the three riders on the podium.

Valverde will get a chance to make the double when he spearheads a strong Movistar team in Sunday's road race.

Result:

1. Alejandro Valverde 58.00

2. Ion Izagirre +0.68

3. Jonathan Catroviejo +1.04

4. Jesus Herrada +1.06

5. Imanol Erviti +1.19

6. Benat Intxausti +1.24

7. Eloy Teruel +1.47

8. Jose De Segovia +2.18

9. Oma Fraile +2.24

10. Diego Rubio +2.37