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Australian cyclist Rohan Dennis has taken the yellow leader's jersey after winning the prologue of the Tour de Romandie in Switzerland.

Australian cyclist Rohan Dennis has won the Tour de Romandie prologue as team Ineos Grenadiers swept the podium in Switzerland, with teammate and countryman Richie Porte in third.

Former time trial world champion Dennis finished the 4.05 kilometre course around Oron in five minutes 26 seconds, nine seconds ahead of Welsh teammate Geraint Thomas.

Porte came in less than a second behind Thomas in another podium lockout for the Grenadiers after dominating at the Volta a Catalunya last month.

Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome finished 130th in the prologue, 52 seconds behind Dennis, as he continues his recovery from injury.

Dennis will take the leader's yellow jersey into the the first stage of the Swiss race on Wednesday.

"It was full gas, then full gas even more," Dennis told CyclingNews.com at the finish.

"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."

After a winless 2020, Dennis has shown a return to form this year, with a stage victory at the Volta a Catalunya.