"It will be another big battle" - Romain Bardet looking to defend surprise second place at Tour de France

Romain Bardet had hinted it was a possibility to see him in the fight for the overall classification, however that ambition and goal has been completed cemented today as the Team DSM rider rode a brilliant stage and climbed to second place in the overall classification.

“It was a really hard day and as expected it was the first big GC day," Bardet said after the finish. "We didn’t expect it would go that hard on the Col de Télégraphe, but I was still with Chris [Hamilton] and he did a super good job bringing me back to the front."

Bardet didn't directly respond to the attacks of Primoz Roglic on the second climb of the day, but at the Col du Galibier showed his true form by sticking with Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard almost until the summit. The true effort that mattered would be later on in the Col du Granon, where the Frenchman thrived once again.

"It was then all about the legs and I’m quite happy with the day. Now it’s onto tomorrow because it will be another big battle," he concluded. Bardet attacked the yellow jersey with just over five kilometers to go and then rode solo until the finish to come home third, 1:10 minutes down on Jonas Vingegaard.

To fight for the race win is a tough ask, however the Frenchman has been very consistent and is on top form once again after his Giro d'Italia disappointment - where he was in a similar position. Bardet has 6 seconds over Pogacar and 10 on Geraint Thomas who are the closest competitors, but with another day in the high mountains tomorrow the Frenchman is set to be in the spotlight once again.