Mikkel Bjerg takes first career win on Critérium du Dauphiné ITT edging out Jonas Vingegaard by 12 seconds

Mikkel Bjerg has clocked the fastest time on the stage 4 individual time-trial at the Critérium du Dauphiné with the UAE Team Emirates rider finishing 12 seconds ahead of pre-stage favourite Jonas Vingegaard.

Stage 4 is the race's individual time-trial. Compared to the Tour de France, this day alone sees more kilometres against the clock than in the whole of the upcoming Grand Tour. Here there will be 31 kilometres, not pan-flat but mostly without tough gradients.

From the early riders down the start ramp, the clearly best time was by Rémi Cavagna of Soudal - Quick-Step. The 27-year-old Frenchman had over half a minute's lead over his nearest challenger, Nelson Oliveira courtesy of his 37:55 effort.

Jonas Vingegaard was a man on a mission and flew through the first time check, clocking a time 12 seconds quicker than anyone else at the first intermediate.

As the GC riders began to reach the finish line, Cavagna remained in the hot seat. Daniel Martinez was 40 seconds down, Jai Hindley at 41 seconds and Matteo Jorgenson was 1:10 behind.

Finally though, Cavagna would be beaten by UAE Team Emirates' Mikkel Bjerg. The Dane clocked a very impressive time of 37:28.

Adam Yates came down 56 seconds down on Bjerg, but 10 and 11 seconds up on Martinez and Hindley respectively.

Jonas Vingegaard was unable to beat the time of Bjerg, missing out by 12 seconds but still putting considerable time into his general classification rivals.

Ben O'Connor posted a good time, 41 seconds behind Bjerg and 29 off of Vingegaard putting himself in a promising position relative to the other GC riders, with the biggest mountains still to come.

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