Geraint Thomas heads into Friday’s tough time trial still in third spot at the Tour of Romandy in Switzerland.

The Cardiff-born rider finished safely in the main group on stage two to remain just four seconds adrift.

Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic leads from Australia’s Rohan Dennis with the 9.9m race against the clock set to shake up the general classification.

Roglic is expected to be a tough rival on the uphill time trial from Ollon to Villars before Saturday’s hilly penultimate stage.

Thomas is using the race as part of his build-up to July’s Tour de France where he could be leading Team Sky if Chris Froome is unable to compete.

Belgium’s Thomas De Gendt of Lotto Soudal won Thursday’s 179.7km stage to Yverdon-les-Bains by two minutes and four seconds after breaking clear.

Sky’s sporting director Dario Cioni said: “So far we’ve only had one really big GC day which was the opening prologue.

But the next two days now should be key, starting with the time trial tomorrow.

“It’s a tough course with nowhere to hide and no one to help you. Roglic will be tough to beat but G is going well.”

Luke Rowe is 86th overall after again playing a key role for fellow Cardiff-born rider Thomas on the stage.