Rohan Dennis triumphed on the first stage of the Tour de Suisse ©Getty Images

Australia’s Rohan Dennis won the opening time trial of the Tour de Suisse to move in the municipality of Cham.

The BMC Racing rider produced a powerful effort to triumph on the short 6.1 kilometre course in a time of 6 min 24sec.

He would prevent a home victory on the opening day of the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour race, with Stefan Küng ending eight seconds behind the winner.

Austria’s Matthias Brändle finished a further second adrift, along with Australia’s Michael Matthews and the Netherlands’ Tom Dumoulin.

Dumoulin is competing shortly after winning the centenary edition of the Giro d’Italia, the Team Sunweb rider’s first Grand Tour success.

Spain’s Jonathan Castroviejo and the Netherlands’ Lars Boom were 11 and 12sec adrift.

The Tour de Suisse will continue with a 172.7km stage tomorrow in Cham, which will see the peloton take on a circuit four times.

Colombia's Miguel Angel Lopez is the defending champion.

While a number of elite cyclists are currently competing at the Critérium du Dauphiné, the Tour de Suisse has also helped riders prepare for the Tour de France in previous years.

It is due to conclude on June 18 with a 28.6km time trial starting and finishing in the town of Schaffhausen.