Tadej Pogacar regained the leader’s yellow jersey in thrilling fashion as he raced clear to win stage four of the Tour de France.

With this being the first big mountain stage of this year’s Tour, the general classification contenders feared UAE Team Emirates would send out a message as they attempt to wrest back the title from Jonas Vingegaard and Visma–Lease a Bike.

And they delivered as the race made its way from Italy into France, with overnight leader Richard Carapaz soon dropped as they attacked near the top of the gruelling climb up the Col du Galibier.

Two-time champion Pogacar then extended his lead during the descent of nearly 19km to the finish in Valloire to win by 35 seconds from Remco Evenepoel, with Vingegaard crossing two seconds later in fifth.

Slovenian Pogacar, 25, now leads Evenepoel by 45 seconds in the GC standings, with Vingegaard five seconds further back in third.