Rohan Dennis was at the head of an Ineos podium clean sweep in the Tour de Romandie prologue on Tuesday.
The 4.05 kilometre race-against-the-clock in and around Oron-la-Ville, ending with a 900m summit, proved right up Ineos-Grenadiers’ street, with Dennis setting a fastest time of 5min 26sec.
The 2018 world time trial champion came in just over nine seconds clear of his teammates Geraint Thomas and Richie Porte, ensuring a perfect start for the British team.
“It was full gas, then full gas even more,” Dennis said. “It was tricky to pace because it’s still a minute and a half uphill and there’s no way to get extra speed unless you’ve got the power. The last 800 metres really hurt.”
Wednesday’s stage takes the peloton on a 168.1km ride from Aigle to Martigny, with a second time trial lying in wait on Sunday’s closing day in Fribourg.
