Team Sky finished in 14th place, 28 seconds behind winners HTC-Columbia, in the floodlit team time trial which opened the 75th anniversary of the Vuelta a España. 

They had to battle back after leading general classification hope Thomas Löfkvist lost touch in the early stages.

Team Principal Dave Brailsford explained: "They went off like a train and Thomas just got distanced a little bit on one of the chicanes. That meant he had to fight really hard to get back which put him into the red and it was hard going for him from then on."

Kjell Carlström dropped back to shepherd Löfkvist home and the pair crossed the line 47 seconds behind Team Sky's leading quintet.