Australian cyclist Rohan Dennis has laid down a marker ahead of the Tour de France time trial by taking the opening stage of the Tour of Switzerland.
The BMC rider won comfortably in 6:24, eight seconds clear of hometown hope Stefan Kueng in second and nine ahead of Australia's Matthias Brandle in third.
Fellow Australian Michael Matthews, riding for Sunweb, was fourth while Luke Durbridge (Orica-Scott) finished in 12th.
Sprint specialist Matthews relished the short 6.1km course.
Sunday's second stage is a 173km circuit starting and ending in the municipality of Cham.
Phil Anderson remains the only Australian to taste success in Switzerland, winning the event in 1985.
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