Hayter, 23, covered the 5.12 km in 5 min 52 sec, ahead of Australian Rohan Dennis (Jumbo-Visma), 2018 and 2019 world champion in the time trial and winner of the prologue by 3 sec 92 last year, and by 9 sec 38 the Austrian Felix Grossschartner (Bora Hansgrohe).
The first wearer of the leader's green jersey, for the 75th edition of the event, is both reigning British champion in the time trial, reigning world champion in the omnium and Olympic vice-champion American racing.
The joy of Briton Ethan Hayter, leader's green jersey, after winning the prologue of the Tour de Romandie, April 26, 2022 in Lausanne Fabrice COFFRINI AFP
His agility as a track racer served him on an almost flat but tricky course, passing through the new Tuilière stadium and the Blécherette aerodrome, with seven turns, two of which are hairpin.
By the time he arrives on Sunday, however, he risks returning to the service of his teammate Geraint Thomas, outgoing winner of the event, who came out of a route that was not conducive to his climbing qualities, finishing fourth at 9 sec 57.
Highly anticipated but handicapped at the start of the season by a fractured vertebra in December, the French champion Rémi Cavagna only took 17th place in the stage, 16 seconds behind Ethan Hayter.
Thibaut Pinot, back on the Romandie event for the first time since 2016, finished 88th at 33 seconds, and will mainly target the big mountain stage on Saturday between Aigle and Zinal.
The first of the five stages of the event, which will end on Sunday in the alpine village of Villars with a new time trial, this time steep, will bring the riders from Grande Béroche to Romont on Wednesday, on a course for adventurers of 178 km and nearly 3,000 m of elevation gain.
© 2022 AFP