NEUCHATEL, Switzerland — The rebranded Sky team began racing as Team Ineos on Tuesday with Geraint Thomas placing fifth in the Tour of Romandie prologue.
After nine full seasons under the Sky banner, and six Tour de France titles, the team was bought by Britain’s richest man in March. Jim Ratcliffe made his billions with the chemicals company Ineos he founded.
Thomas, the 2018 Tour champion, trailed four seconds behind Jan Tratnik, who completed the 3.87-kilometre (2.4 mile) route in just over five minutes.
Tratnik was one second ahead of his more heralded fellow Slovenian, Primoz Roglic, who won the six-day Romandie race last year.
Tom Bohli of Switzerland was third on the same time as Roglic. Former time trial world champion Tony Martin was fourth, on the same time as Thomas.
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