HOPES that a British rider could wear the yellow jersey through Kent during the Tour de France today ended in disappointment in the Prologue event in London.

Bradley Wiggins fell 24 seconds short of the eventual winning mark of eight minutes 50 seconds set by the world time-trial champion Fabian Cancellara.

Wiggins already knew his fate, having failed to beat the German Andreas Kloden, whose time of nine minutes three seconds established him as an early favourite for the yellow jersey.

The main race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov set a time of nine minutes 20 seconds.

Britain's Mark Cavendish finished in a respectable time of nine minutes 43 seconds and is exepcted to challenge for the sprint finish in Canterbury this afternoon.