Italy’s Fabio Felline won the Tour of Romandie prologue in Swiss town Aigle today and dedicated his triumph to late compatriot Michele Scarponi ©Getty Images

Italy's Fabio Felline won the Tour of Romandie prologue in Swiss town Aigle today and dedicated his triumph to late compatriot Michele Scarponi.

Felline completed the 4.8-kilometre route in a time of 5min 57sec and said the win was for Scarponi, who was killed on Saturday (April 22) after being involved in a crash during training.

The Trek-Segafredo rider was two seconds quicker than closest challenger Alex Dowsett of Great Britain, and seven seconds faster than Australia's Alex Edmondson.

Three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome of Britain finished 29 seconds behind in his first race for a month.

Froome has previously won the event twice, in 2013 and 2014, and picked up a stage victory last year.

Great Britain's Alex Dowsett finished in the runners-up spot ©Getty Images
Great Britain's Alex Dowsett finished in the runners-up spot ©Getty Images

Scarponi was riding near his home in Filottrano in central Italy when a van collided with him.

It came a day after the 2011 Giro d’Italia winner, who was married and had two children, had finished fourth in the Tour of the Alps, of which he won the opening stage last week.

The Italian's funeral took place today.

The Tour de Romandie is part of the International Cycling Union (UCI) World Tour.

Tomorrow sees the cyclists head to Champéry on a 168.9km hilly stage.