Stage 5 was an absorbing and close run time-trial – and my chance to see the faces of each rider as they wait to start their lap. I find this brief glimpse very interesting – not only from a technical point of view – to achieve a likeness for a start, not to mention the reflections on the glass of the helmet and so on – but here is the chance to look into the eyes of a rider and see their character perhaps?

This example is of defending champion Tadej Pogačar – who looks even younger this year than last when he won! He is a terrific cyclist – the complete racer I feel, very exciting to watch and this stage is where he set his stall out – He won it in great style – and although Mathieu van der Poel – very gifted and young too – retained the Yellow today, something in the gaze of Pogačar makes me think that it won’t be his for much longer…

For now he waits and will strike when the time is right.