Team Sky's Russell Downing finished second in the opening stage of the Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia today.
Six riders broke after five kilometres of the 178.7km stage from San Pedro del Pinatar to Alhama de Murcia and stayed away until they were finally caught on the final climb of the day.
Rabbobank and Team Sky got to the front as the race headed towards the finish line. There was a bit of shoving but it was Rabbobank's Michael Matthews who won it, beating Team Sky’s Russell Downing and Davide Appollonio.
Alex Dowsett finshed in 20th place, Chris Froome in 41st, Charles Weglius was 84th, David Clarke was 98th with Ireland's Daniel Martin 99th, Ian Wilkinson was 124th.
Stage two on Saturday is from Estrella de Levante (Murcia) to entro de Interpretación de Sierra Espuña and is 183.2 km long.