Froome surprised but pleased with victory

The defending champion won the 10.4km opening time trial by eight seconds ahead of Alberto Contador, with Trek rider Bob Jungels in third.

Froome expressed surprise at the manner of his victory, telling Team Sky’s official website: “I don’t think it was necessarily the objective to take the yellow jersey (yesterday) on such a short, flat time-trial but I couldn’t be happier with the result.

“I’m here to win the race and we’re going to do everything we can.

“Obviously it’s most important to try to have the yellow jersey at the end of the race, not necessarily right now.”

Jungels held his lead for much of the day before Tinkoff-Saxo’s Contador, the penultimate rider, eclipsed the Dutchman’s time by one second.

Riding last, Froome produced a strong second half of the stage to demolish Contador’s time and claim victory in 13 minutes and 13 seconds.

Froome’s Team Sky team-mate Geraint Thomas was the next best-placed Briton in 16th place, 14 seconds off the lead, with 21-year-old Adam Yates down in 64th place.

Former world champion Danny Hart was pipped into third place at the Mountain Bike World Cup in Fort William on Sunday.

The Redcar 22-year-old was fastest at the first split but fell half a second behind Australian rival Sam Hill at the finish line.

Hill’s compatriot Troy Brosnan then stormed down the track to claim his first World Cup victory in a time of 4.36.580.

Last year’s winner Gee Atherton finished in fifth place, just over three seconds behind the winner.

Fionn Griffiths was the best-placed Briton in the elite women’s race, finishing fifth behind Emmeline Ragot of France who won in 5.12.624, over eight seconds ahead of compatriot Myriam Nicole.

Another former world champion, Rachel Atherton, crossed the line in fifth place but struggled with a flat tyre and was later disqualified.

Burley-in-Wharfedale’s Scott Thwaites finished one minute and nine seconds off Froome’s pace.