Dutchman Lars Boom won the prologue of the Criterium du Dauphine on Sunday, a 5.4km time-trial.
Rabobank rider Boom clocked six minutes 18 seconds to beat Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov of the Astana team by two seconds.
Briton Bradley Wiggins, who suffered a mechanical problem, came home third five seconds off the pace for Team Sky, smashing his handlebar in frustration after crossing the line.
Ireland is represented by Daniel Martin (Garmin-Cervelo) and Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) is this year's edition of the Dauphine.
Roche came home 42nd in the prologue time-trial - 19 seconds off Boom.
Martin had a tougher day at the office, finishing 144th, 42 seconds behind the Dutch stage winner.
Boom, however, managed an impressive performance on a tricky route featuring a 900-metre climb from the start.
'It was his goal of the week,' Rabobank sports director Adri van Houweligen told reporters.
'Lars just confirmed that he is one of the best in the world on short time trials.'
Boom was surprised by his performance.
'I was not sure I would win this because I suffered some knee pains during the Tour of California (last month),' the 25-year-old said.
The Criterium du Dauphine, a traditional warm-up race for the Tour de France, ends next Sunday.
Defending champion Janez Brajkovic of Slovenia finished 14 seconds behind Boom, with Tour hopeful Cadel Evans of Australia coming home nine seconds off the pace in seventh place.
