Ion Izagirre (Movistar) confirmed his great form by winning his first Spanish time trial title on the 41km course in Alicante. The Basque beat teammates Jonathan Castroviejo and Alejandro Valverde into second and third respectively while Jesus Herrada made it four Movistar riders in the top 4.

Less than a week ago, Ion Izagirre proved his huge progress as a time triallist by riding to a dominant victory in the Tour de Suisse time trial before going on to finish second overall. The result made him the obvious favourite for today's Spanish Championships and he didn't disappoint.

Izagirre covered the 41km covered in Alicante in a time of 50.52 after having passed the intermediate checks in the fastest time and that wa was enough to take his first title. He was 22 seconds faster than teammate Jonathan Castroviejo who has had a remarkable return to form after his bad crash at the Volta ao Algarve in February. Today's event was just his second race after his comeback at the Tour de Suisse and he came very close to defending his title.

In general, it was the expected dominance from the Movistar team. In his first race since the Giro, Alejandro Valverde confirmed his great consistency by getting close to a second title, finishing third at 25 seconds. Criterium du Dauphiné stage winner Jesus Herrada was 1.22 behind in fourth while multiple champion Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) was the best of the rest in fifth, 1.32 behind Izagirre. With Marc Soler and Imanol Erviti also among the best, Movistar had six riders in the top 10.

Attention now turns to Saturday's road race where Valverde is the defending champion.

Izaguirre (50:52) has surpassed his teammates Castroviejo (51:14) and Valverde (51.17), second and third respectively. This 2016, the guipuzcoano won the prologue of the Tour de Romandie and the recent trial of the Tour of Switzerland, in addition to the GP Miguel Indurain, in a brilliant season for him in rounds: 2nd in Switzerland and Algarve, 3rd in Romandie, 4th in Region Valencia and 5th in Paris-Nice.

Valverde set the fastest intermediate time, 4 "better than Izaguirre, but Murcia has accused his lack of competition and has given at the end of a demanding profile and on a hot afternoon in Alicante land.

In elite Jurado (55:17) has surpassed Aser Estevez (55:38) and lllart Zuazubiskar (55:57).