The 25-year-old has produced strong performances against the clock so far this season, including earning a victory in the individual time trial on route to winning the Critérium International in March.

Pinot was able to highlight his improvement again in the discipline by finishing the 15 kilometre course in Sion in a time of 20min 21sec to earn the stage victory in the International Cycling Union (UCI) World Tour race.

The FDJ rider, who is seen as his country’s best prospect of ending their wait for a Tour de France winner which stretches back to 1985, was able to finish two seconds clear of Dutch star Tom Dumoulin.

It meant that Dumoulin was forced to settle for second place for the second time in the race, having ended as the runner-up in prologue.

Race leader Nairo Quintana of Colombia would finish the day satisfied with his efforts, as the Movistar cyclist crossed the line with the sixth fastest time, just nine seconds off the pace of Pinot.

His performance proved enough to stretch his overall race lead from 18 to 23 seconds, with Pinot having risen to second place.

Russia’s Ilnur Zakarin, who was relegated to second in yesterday’s stage after being deemed to have sprinted irregularly, slipped to third in the standings.

The Katusha rider is now 26 seconds behind Quintana, as he seeks to win the Tour de Romandie for the second successive year.

Tomorrow will see the riders complete a 173km mountain stage from Conthey to Villars-sur-Ollon, with the racing then due to draw to a close with a 172km flat stage from Ollon to Geneva on Sunday (May 1).