Vingegaard expected to make move as high mountains loom

PIACENZA, Italy : Tuesday's fourth stage of the Tour de France will sort the men from the boys as the race hits the high mountains, with Jonas Vingegaard looking to make an early impact after a start that probably exceeded his own expectations.

The defending champion entered the event having not raced since he sustained broken ribs and a collapsed lung in April, and his rivals were hoping to put the hammer down early on to benefit from the Dane's lack of competitive riding.

Tadej Pogacar, who is bidding to achieve the first Giro d'Italia/Tour de France double since 1998, won the Tour in 2020 and 2021 but was humbled by Vingegaard in the last two editions.

The Slovenian has had a sterling season as he won six stages in his triumphant Giro ride, also claiming victory in the Liege-Bastogne-Liege Monument classic and the Tour of Catalunya.

In Sunday's second stage, the San Luca climb, a short and brutal effort (1.9km at 10.6 per cent), was the perfect terrain to put the pressure on Vingegaard and his other main rivals.

Vingegaard, however, responded with awe-inspiring ease. He was the only rider to follow Pogacar's attack, likely instilling doubt into the world number one's mind as confidence possibly switched sides.

Tuesday's ride is a 139.6km effort between Pinerolo and Valloire featuring three categorised climbs, notably the lung-busting ascent to the Col du Galibier peaking at 2,642 metres.

"I think this went way better than I ever expected, so I'm really satisfied," said Vingegaard.

"I think this is probably one of the stages we feared the most, or we actually expected me to lose time. Honestly speaking I didn't have a good preparation for this race.

"I only had one and a half months to prepare, probably, so I think I can be