Chris Froome (Team Sky) put himself in poll position to win the Critérium du Dauphiné, finishing third on stage four, a 32.5km individual time trial, to rise to second overall.
Froome is now just five seconds behind new race leader Rohan Dennis (Garmin-Sharp), who finished second on the stage behind world time trial champion Tony Martin.
Froome, who will lead Team Sky at the Tour de France, is now favourite to win the Critérium du Dauphiné, considered a key indicator of form ahead of the Tour, and continue Team Sky’s dominance of the event following Bradley Wiggins’ victories in 2011 and 2012.
The Dauphiné continues on Thursday with a 139km stage finishing with the hors categorie climb to Valmorel at 1,369m.
Stage six is likely to favour the sprinters, while stage seven includes an ascent of Alpe d’Huez. The race will then conclude on Sunday with another mountain stage which includes two category one climbs.
