Belgian sensation Remco Evenepoel has seized the leader’s jersey at the Critérium du Dauphiné after delivering a dominant performance in the stage four individual time trial. The reigning Olympic and world champion surged ahead of rivals Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar, offering a bold statement ahead of next month’s Tour de France.
Time trial brilliance puts Evenepoel in control
Remco Evenepoel stamped his authority on the 2024 Critérium du Dauphiné with a scintillating time trial victory on stage four. The 17.4km course through the southeastern French countryside was always going to be a crucial test, and the 24-year-old Belgian didn’t disappoint. Powering through the technical route in 20 minutes and 51 seconds, he finished 21 seconds ahead of two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard.
Evenepoel, donning his Olympic gold helmet, was clinical from start to finish. With his aerodynamic position and precise pacing, he reminded the peloton why he is the reigning world and Olympic time trial champion. “I’m very happy with this victory—the thousandth for the team,” he said at the finish. “This one is for Patrick [Lefevere]—for everything he did for the team.”
The win vaulted Evenepoel to the top of the general classification and reinforced his status as one of the sport’s elite, alongside the likes of Pogacar and Vingegaard. More importantly, it offered the clearest indication yet that he will be a serious contender for yellow in July.
Pogacar and Vingegaard trail in unusual positions
While Evenepoel soared, his Tour de France rivals had a more complicated day. Vingegaard, racing for Visma-Lease a Bike, looked solid and finished second, 21 seconds back. The performance keeps him within striking distance, just 16 seconds behind in the overall standings.
Tadej Pogacar, however, had an off-day. The Slovenian superstar—usually a force in time trials—finished 49 seconds behind Evenepoel, an uncharacteristic result that leaves him 38 seconds down in the GC. Whether this was a tactical easing-off or an indication of form will be a point of speculation for pundits and fans alike.
Despite his time loss, Pogacar remains a serious threat. Known for his explosiveness in the mountains, he’ll have opportunities to claw back time in the grueling stages to come. And with three brutal Alpine ascents scheduled for Saturday’s stage, fireworks are expected.
Lipowitz shines as breakout performer
While much of the attention focused on the “big three,” one of the most impressive rides of the day came from Germany’s Florian Lipowitz. The Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider has been steadily rising through the ranks this season and proved his credentials by limiting his losses to Evenepoel, finishing just 57 seconds back.
Lipowitz now sits second overall, only four seconds behind the Belgian leader. His performance has added a new dynamic to the Dauphiné, as he now positions himself as both a GC threat and a possible stage hunter in the upcoming mountain challenges. With youthful ambition and strong team backing, Lipowitz may be one of the race’s most exciting storylines in the days ahead.
A pivotal dress rehearsal for the Tour
The Critérium du Dauphiné has long been viewed as the ultimate preparation race for the Tour de France. Many of the Tour’s eventual champions have tested their legs here before heading to Paris with the maillot jaune. Yet, history offers no guarantees: only four of the past ten Dauphiné winners have gone on to claim Tour victory in the same year. Still, the stakes remain high. This year’s edition is especially significant given the tight competition between Evenepoel, Pogacar, and Vingegaard. With all three aiming for Tour glory, the Dauphiné provides a rare, head-to-head preview just weeks before the world’s most prestigious cycling race.
Saturday’s queen stage, featuring three punishing hors catégorie climbs to Valmeinier, is expected to be the most decisive of the race. It’s here where GC contenders will need to show not just form, but strategy and resilience.
Other riders to watch as the race unfolds
Beyond the marquee names, the top ten is packed with talent. American Matteo Jorgenson, riding in support of Vingegaard at Visma-Lease a Bike, delivered a strong time trial to sit ninth overall. Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel also showed well, landing fourth in the GC after another consistent day.
Former leader Ivan Romeo of Movistar, who wore the yellow jersey after stage three, lost significant time and now finds himself in third place, nine seconds adrift. Ireland’s Eddie Dunbar and Colombia’s Harold Tejada remain close, both within 30 seconds of the lead.
The general classification after four stages reflects the tightly contested nature of the race:
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) – 14h 31m 08s
Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +4s
Ivan Romeo (Movistar) – +9s
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – +14s
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) – +16s
Eddie Dunbar (Jayco-AlUla) – +30s
Harold Tejada (XDS Astana) – same time
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – +38s
Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) – +39s
Louis Barre (Intermarché-Wanty) – +1m 03s
What’s next in the Dauphiné?
Thursday’s stage will take the peloton on a 183km journey from Saint-Priest to Mâcon. It’s a rolling course, ideal for breakaways and puncheurs, but unlikely to change the GC unless unexpected crosswinds or crashes intervene.
All eyes, however, are on the mountains. Saturday’s brutal test in the Alps will be a moment of truth for GC hopefuls. With steep gradients, thin air, and unpredictable weather, it’s the kind of terrain that breaks legs—and makes legends.
For Remco Evenepoel, the challenge is clear: defend the jersey, hold off the world’s best, and make the most emphatic statement possible before the Tour de France. Whether he can do that will depend not just on power and tactics—but on the grit that defines every great champion.
