Tour of Romandie: Chris Froome finishes 13th in prologue

Chris Froome

Britain's Chris Froome finished 13th in the prologue to the Tour of Romandie as he returned to racing after recent illness and injury problems.

The Team Sky rider, 28, has not raced since March, when he finished sixth in the Tour of Catalonia.

Froome, was 10 seconds behind Poland's Michal Kwiatkowski, who was quickest around the short 5.57km time-trial course in the Swiss town of Ascona.

The 2013 Tour de France winner is defending the title he won last year.

Froome was back in action only two days after he pulled out of last Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege race because of illness.

Wednesday's stage one is a 200.9km run from Ascona to Sion which will feature the snow-covered Simplon climb.

Race results:

1. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol/Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) 6:22"

2. Rohan Dennis (Aus/Garmin) +4"

3. Marcel Kittel (Ger/Giant)

4. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita/Trek)

5. Tony Martin (Ger/Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +5"

13. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +10"