Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, twice world time-trial champion, pedalled to victory by nearly five seconds in the Tour of California prologue.

Cancellara, who captured last year's Tour de France prologue and wore the race leader's jersey for a week, completed the flat, 3.3-kilometer course in 3:51.21.

Britain's Bradley Wiggins was second in 3:55.98 with American Tyler Farrar third in 3:56.46.

Defending champion and twice prologue winner Levi Leipheimer of the United States was fourth, completing the flat oval-shaped course in 3:57.525.

Cancellara, who competes for Denmark-based team CSC, was the 129th rider in the field of 132 to navigate the course.

The event also featured the competitive return of flamboyant former world champion Mario Cipollini of Italy, who is riding for the American-based Rock Racing team.

The 40-year-old Cipollini, winner of a record 42 stages of the Tour of Italy and with 191 career victories, finished 44th, 17 seconds behind Cancellara.

It was Cipollini's first race since he retired in 2005.

The eight-day, 1,046-kilometre event continues on Monday with the 156km Sausalito to Santa Rosa first stage.

Reuters