Froome's Sky team wins time trial to open Tour of Romandie

VALLORBE, Switzerland (AP) The Sky team of two-time defending champion Chris Froome began the six-day Tour of Romandie by winning a team time trial on Tuesday.

Froome's teammate Geraint Thomas wore the leader's yellow jersey after Sky timed 21 minutes, 19 seconds over a 19.2-kilometer (11.9-mile) lakeside route from Vallee de Joux to the Juraparc in the French-speaking region of Switzerland.

The Orica Greenedge team was edged into second place though was officially given the same time. Katusha placed third, five seconds back.

The Astana team of Vincenzo Nibali, the 2014 Tour de France winner, trailed by 17 seconds in fifth.

From 2011-2013, all three Romandie winners - Cadel Evans, Bradley Wiggins and Froome - then won that season's Tour de France.

Wednesday's stage is a 168.1kilometer (104.5-mile) route from Apples to Saint-Imier.