Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) was unable to catch Bob Jungels (AG2R Citroën) on the climb to Chatel and the Tour de France headed to the Alps. But the enigmatic Frenchman showed that he is back to his best and will certainly be targeting the major mountains (the Col de Granon and especially the L'Alpe d'Huez on Thursday's Bastille Day) after Monday's rest day to Megève.

A patriotic French crowd cheered on Pinot as he tried to chase Jungels on the Pas de Morjan; starting 2:30 behind on the 15.4km climb, Pinot closed the gap to 20 seconds before the summit, but was unable to close the gap on the descent and final climb to the finish

In addition, Cal's teammate, Gilbert Pinot, was unable to make up the difference on the final climb to the finish.

He was also caught by Carlos Verona (Movistar) and Jonathan Castroviejo (Ineos Grenadier) just before the finish, finishing in fourth place, but his dynamic ride earned him the Combattivite prize and the red number for stage 10.

"I have no regrets. I really gave it my all," Pinot told the French media at the finish, before returning to the team bus with a towel around his neck for the COVID-19 test before the rest day.

"I found it hard to catch up to Jungels on the last climb. I lost time to him on the difficult part of the climb, but he rode the undulations well and the finish was in his favor."

"Bob also rode great. When Jungels attacked I had the legs, but the wind was strong in the valley, so I didn't think it would work out. But a lone rider like him always runs better than the pack in those conditions. But I didn't expect to be two and a half minutes slower when we started the climb."

"I'm happy to have made the race exciting because it looked like a winner. My attack created a bit of suspense. It was more or less the first day of racing that I felt good about. I am very happy for what is to come. The best two weeks are ahead of us.

Pinot has endured a roller coaster career, especially since his stage win on the summit of the Col du Tourmalet in 2019, but now he looks to be in top form and will be a real danger on the breakaways between Morzine and the end of the Pyrenees

He retired from the 2019 Tour de France with a muscle injury on stage 19, and in 2020 he crashed badly on the rain-soaked opening stage around Nice; in 2022, at age 32, David Gaudoux was named Groupama-FDJ leader for the Tour de France Along with the Frenchman, he was back on form.

Pinot was happy to race without pain and with less responsibility; he suffered a stage loss in April's Tour de Alps, but took the overall win 24 hours later in pouring rain. He won again at the Tour de Suisse.

On Friday, he overcame another disappointment when he suffered a crash at the top of the Super Planche des Belle Filles, about 4 km from the finish. There is no doubt that he is getting better for the big mountain stages.

"It was a crazy ride, but not enough." Thibaut Pinot finished fourth in Chatel, and the proof is in the pudding, he continues to excite the Tour de France crowd and will continue to do so," the Groupama-FDJ team said on social media.