Egan Bernal warns of dangers of opening high mountain day at Tour de France: "Surely differences will be marked"

The fourth stage of the 2024 Tour de France with a route of just 140 kilometers that can mark the first big differences between the men in the general classification. Egan Bernal faces the climb to the Galibier confident of being able to spend the day among the best and believes the climbers will arrive at the finish with meaningful gaps.

"Very good, looking forward to it," the Colombian said at the start of the day, one that should suit his characteristics quite well with the long effort and high altitude involved. "It's the first long uphill stage, with altitude, after four days that's going to be felt. I'm fine, I hope I can make it through the day."

The Colombian rider of INEOS Grenadiers explained before the day that he believes that there will be the first attacks among the favorites and that the first surprises will happen and the first differences will be created among those who will fight for the yellow jersey until Nice. On stage 2;: he, Carlos Rodríguez and Tom Pidcock all arrived in the main GC group behind the Pogacar group.

"Surely differences will be marked, it is a stage that will make it clearer how we are in the general classification, it will be a surprise," he warned. "The first stage is really hard and differences will be seen, whoever has a bad day can lose a lot of time, it is a day to be super concentrated, lose the best possible time and think about other days".

The winner of the Tour de France 2019 faces the stage eighth in the general classification 21 seconds behind Tadej Pogacar and equal in times with his teammates Carlos Rodriguez and Tom Pidcock. Today will begin to define the leadership of the race in the British team, although in the statements he gives the profile of favourite.