Surprised Tuesday in an uphill sprint by David Gaudu, van Aert had to resign himself again, more easily however than the day before.

"I am beaten by the world champion", underlined the Belgian from the Jumbo team who consolidated his position at the top of the general classification after this stage run north of Montbrison (Loire).

Between Ganna and van Aert, the story continues since the Italian beat the Belgian at the last two Worlds in the discipline.

But the gap has narrowed (26 sec in 2020, 6 sec in 2021) to narrow further in this stage of Dauphiné.

"I hope to beat him soon," smiled van Aert.

"Fortunately, the weather was better, it was sunny when rain was announced. The conditions were about the same for everyone," said Ganna, who left early to establish the reference time, at 53.8 km/h average over the 31.9 kilometers of the course.

A great specialist in solo effort, the Italian giant (25) who planned to tackle the hour record at the end of August ran five time trials this year.

For a record of four victories and a second place, while waiting for the big meeting in Copenhagen, the opening time of the Tour de France scheduled for July 1 and also targeted by van Aert.

"I prefer shorter efforts and that will be the case in Copenhagen. But I think that also applies to Ganna!", announced the Belgian.

Italian Filippo Ganna, winner of the time trial during the 4th stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné, June 8, 2022 north of Montbrison (Loire) Marco BERTORELLO AFP

Roglic the first of the climbers

With a lead of 53 seconds over the Italian Matteo Cattaneo in the general classification, van Aert occupies the first place in the Jumbo team (three riders in the first four places).

Its theoretical leader, the Slovenian Primoz Roglic, ranked fifth in the La Bâtie d'Urfé time trial.

"It was not the best course for me," said the Olympic champion in the discipline in Tokyo, who did better, however, than the other declared candidates for victory or the podium.

Compared to Roglic, the Italian Damiano Caruso dropped 43 seconds, the Briton Tao Geoghegan Hart 49 seconds and the Australian Ben O'Connor more than a minute.

As for the American Brandon McNulty, victim of a chain jump and a mess for his repair, he finished more than a minute and a half behind the Slovenian.

David Gaudu, who was in second place at the start of Montbrison, logically fell to 12th place in the general classification.

The Frenchman outdid himself not to be picked up by van Aert who left two minutes after him.

For the most part, he confirmed encouraging progress in the time trial (23rd less than two minutes from Ganna despite the distance).

Thursday, the 5th stage is offered to sprinters but gives adventurers a chance on a 162.3 kilometer course between Thizy-les-Bourges (Rhône) and Chaintré (Saône-et-Loire) near Mâcon.

Passing before the halfway point through the village, Le Guidon, where Bernard Thévenet, the winner of the Tour in 1975 and 1977, grew up.

© 2022 AFP