Pogacar, Vingegaard and Evenepoel will compete in the fourth stage, a crucial test before the Tour de France
The fourth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné promises to be the first real face-to-face between the three big favourites of the Tour de France:
Tadej Pogacar-Remco Evenepoel-Jonas VingegaardIt will be the first head-to-head between the three champions since the final stage of last year's Tour de France in Nice. The trio already put on a show in the opening stage of this edition of the Dauphiné, with Pogacar narrowly edging out the peloton.
After three stages, only 11 seconds separate the three big names, with the Slovenian currently ninth in the standings at 1:06 from leader Iván Romeo (Movistar). The 17.4 km time trial from Charmes-sur-Rhône to Saint-Péray promises to create bigger gaps, however. The route features 210 meters of elevation gain, concentrated mainly in the Les Freydières climb (1.6 km at 9.4% average gradient) located 6 km after the start.
Evenepoel, speaking on the eve of the test, explained his strategy:
'The important thing will be not to go over the limit in the first part, then give it your all on the climb and maintain the pace until the finish line'The next time trial showdown between these champions will be on the fifth stage of the Tour de France in Caen. According to Evenepoel though: ' A Grand Tour is won in the mountains, not necessarily in the time trial. For the moment we are doing a good job in finding the right balance'
