Vingegaard highlights potential improvements after Dauphiné time trial, as opponent Pogacar inspects the Dane's Cervélo

"I'm pretty happy with the result," Vingegaard said after the race. "Remco is the best time trialist in the world, so losing only 20 seconds to him in this time trial is pretty good, in my opinion. And I gained time on Tadej, so I can be satisfied at the end of the day." Pogacar finished fourth in the day's results, 49 seconds behind.

It seemed that Vingegaard was having some trouble shifting gears along the way, but he had an explanation for that himself afterward. "I didn't have any mechanical problems; I just missed a few gears," said Vingegaard.

"Maybe I should have used a bigger chainring at the front, but I don't think it would have made much difference. I wouldn't have been even five seconds faster. I might have needed it on the fast sections," he added. After the race, fellow contender Pogacar briefly examined the Dane's bike.

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, there are still quite a few altitude meters on the menu in this Critérium du Dauphiné. "It's better to be ahead of Tadej than behind him, but I'm still behind Remco and must make up time. We've seen in recent years that a lot can be made up on the climbs, so there are still some interesting days ahead."

Vingegaard is currently fifth in the GC, sixteen seconds behind Evenepoel. Between him and the Belgian are Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Ivan Romeo (Movistar), and Alpecin-Deceuninck star Mathieu van der Poel.