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Geraint Thomas (Sky) in the Tour de Romandie lead (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

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Geraint Thomas pulls on the race leader's jersey. (Image credit: Sirotti)

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Team Sky on their way to the winning time (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

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Svein Tuft drives the Orica-GreenEdge train (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

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Team Sky edged out Orica-GreenEdge by just 0.63 of a second to claim victory in the opening team time trial of the Tour de Romandie and place Geraint Thomas in the yellow jersey of race leader.

Froome: It would be incredible to win third consecutive Romandie

Tour de Romandie: Sky pip Orica-GreenEdge in team time trial

The two teams could scarcely be separated on the rolling 19.2km course from Vallée du Joux to Juraparc, and they were level at the intermediate checkpoint after 15 kilometres. The finale included the climb of the Mont d’Orzeires and that, perhaps, made the critical difference.

While Orica-GreenEdge were reduced to the bare minimum of five riders by the time they crested the summit, Sky, the last team to take the start, still had seven riders in place as they swooped down towards the finish, including two-time Tour de Romandie winner Chris Froome.

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