Luke Rowe just missed out on a top 10 slot on the prologue time trial of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour in Australia.

The Cardiff-born rider finished 11th after clocking a time of two minutes 36 seconds on the 1.3mile blast in Melbourne.

Rowe’s time was four secs slower than Team Sky team-mate Danny van Poppel who won the prologue.

Three-time Tour de France champ Chris Froome – who Rowe is supporting as his defends his title Down Under – was 26th seven secs down on van Poppel.

And Rowe’s support duties will needed on Thursday’s Queen stage which is a 108.2 mile run to Falls Creek.

Rowe has sharpen ed up for the five-day event with fifth place in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.

Sky are one man down for the race with Welshman Owain Doull sidelined by his burst appendix which has delayed his World Tour debut for the team.