The 135 kilometre stage from Vienne to Col de Porte was expected to provide tougher test for climbers than the opening day’s racing, with a series of ascents building up to the 17km final climb.

Switzerland’s Michael Schär and France’s Bruno Armirail were the final two riders in today’s breakaway, the latter being caught by the main group halfway on the final climb.

The ascent had proved too much for overall leader Wout van Aert of Belgium, with yesterday’s stage winner dropping from the group after aiding his Jumbo-Visma team-mate Roglič.

Team Ineos sought to control proceedings on the final climb, with British stars Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas among those supporting Colombia’s Egan Bernal.

Froome was ultimately dropped by the leading group inside the final five kilometres.

Germany’s Emanuel Buchmann was the first rider to make a serious bid for the stage win with an attack with two kilometres to race, followed by Bernal.

Both riders were thwarted in their attempts and neither had an answer when Roglič accelerated clear in the final kilometre to win the stage in 3 hours 39min 40sec.

France’s Thibaut Pinot followed Roglič over the line eight seconds down, with Buchmann and France’s Guillaume Martin also awarded the same time.

Bernal was part of a six-rider group to finish a further two seconds back.

Roglič, last year’s Vuelta a Espana champion, now leads the general classification by 12 seconds from Pinot.

Buchmann and Bernal follow, with the duo lying 14 and 16 seconds adrift of the race leader.

Tomorrow is due to see the peloton complete a 157km stage from Corenc to Saint-Martin-de-Belleville.

The International Cycling Union WorldTour race is then scheduled toconclude with back-to-back mountain stages finishing in Megève.

The five-stage event is expected to be key for riders’ preparation for the Tour de France, the first Grand Tour of the disrupted season scheduled to take place from August 29 to September 20.