Tao Geoghegan Hart once again showed his maturity and leadership in the Tour of the Alps, confirming his overall win and Giro d'Italia success on day four.

He and Ineos Grenadier easily defended the green leader's jersey of the Tour of the Alps again on the fourth stage to Predazzo at the foot of the Dolomites. He carefully pulled away from the breakaway group on the early climbs, allowing them to take the stage win, but he kept the gap with some brilliant team riding and then led the peloton.

With 144km remaining in the stage to Brunico, Geoghegan Hart is now 22 seconds behind Hugh Carthy (EF Education Easypost) and Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious) is in third place overall, 28 seconds behind. Friday's stage 5 is 144.5 km from Cavalese to Brunico, with an early mountain climb and a final lap around the hills outside the city in the Pusteria Valley.

After two difficult seasons following her 2020 Giro d'Italia victory, Geoghegan Hart is back on a new journey of discovery leading to Italy and the Giro d'Italia this week at the Tour of the Alps.

Having taken the 2020 maglia rosa on the final time trial stage to Milan, the Italian tifosi and Italian media had little time to get to know and understand him, especially in the midst of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week, often through long and fascinating post-race press conferences, Geoghan Hart is revealing his true colors. The Italian has found it as interesting to follow his exploits and thoughts at the Giro d'Italia as he did with overall contenders Remco Evenpole and Primoš Roglic.

La Gazzetta dello Sport devoted pages to Tadei Pogachar's victory in the Fresh Wallonne, but also to Geoghegan Hart and his love of Italian racing, leadership, and personality.

He showed his natural leadership every day at the Tour de l'Alps, praising the efforts of his teammates, encouraging the underperforming Tymen Arensmann, and congratulating Movistar's Gregor Muehlberger on his first stage win in three years and his return from meningitis.

At least in Italy, Geoghegan Hart puts on a friendlier face than Team Sky or Ineos Grenadier have ever done.

Although Geogheganhart modestly denies it, he has charmed the hearts of Italian tifosi with his bike racing prowess and natural charisma.

"I think how you act in any situation shows how strong you are. [I don't think winning a race, helping someone in a race, or coming in last in a race should change the way you treat others."

"In the Giro, I won, we won seven stages, on average one every three days, and I didn't see any [negative] reaction to our success. Perhaps something resonated with the timing of that race. It was after a difficult 2020, and then we went into the tricky winter of 2021 with an even trickier COVID-19 lockdown.

"If we can inspire people watching the race on TV or along the way, we should be proud. Ultimately our responsibility is to inspire and bring joy to people. When we are trying to win, we are not concerned with those things, but the way we win is what resonates most."

In modern cycling, it is possible to be friendly while winning, and Geoghan Hart cites Pogachar as an example.

"The most successful riders in the sport are immensely popular.

Geoghegan Hart is also aware that leadership and being a role model within the team is essential.

While it is the "legs" that ultimately make the difference between winning and losing, leadership can be the X-factor that helps a team perform, especially in a long, hard Grand Tour like the one Giohegan Hart and Ineos Grenadiers will soon face at the Giro d'Italia.

"I have seen all kinds of leaders in this sport. Some have all the tools, some don't. But if you have the legs, you can win," Geoghegan Hart suggested before accepting the leadership role.

"Every rider is very tired in the Grand Tours. When you become a professional and you take the leader's jersey in any Grand Tour, you can see your teammates improve.

"Leadership is about building good relationships with your peers, but it also requires legwork."

Geoghegan Hart has shown leg strength and leadership in the Tour de Alps. He and Ineos Grenadiers are one stage away from victory.

"Nothing has changed," he said. We just have to stick together and get through the day. We just want to stay calm, relax, and enjoy the final stage."