Tao Geoghegan Hart proved once again to himself, his Ineos Grenadiers team, and his rivals that he has found a rich vein of form heading into the Giro d'Italia by defending his overall lead in the Tour of the Alps on Wednesday.

After two seasons of illness and setbacks, Geoghegan Hart is once again full of confidence to chase attacks and carry whoever tries to take the Tour de Alps leader's jersey.

The Englishman and his Ineos Grenadiers team again controlled their rivals on the 15km San Valentin mountain near Lake Garda on Wednesday. Leonard Kemna (Bora-Hansgrohe) escaped to take the stage win, but Geoghegan Hart was able to control his closest overall rival.

Indeed, Felix Gall (AG2R-Citroen) was struggling after his crash on stage 2, but he extended his lead over fellow Briton Hugh Carthy (EF Education-Easy Post) to 22 seconds. Two hilly stages on Friday stand between him and the overall win.

Geoghegan Hart seems to enjoy winning stages and wearing the leader's jersey at the Tour de Alps, but he also understands the importance of enjoying the journey as well as the success.

"I think it's a dangerous game to evaluate your work based on results alone," he suggested at the post-race press conference for stage 3.

"There are many great riders who have never won a single race throughout their career. We have a very special Italian [Salvatore Puccio] on our team who has never finished first.

"There is definitely something to be gained from winning, but the more you get from other things, the better you are as a person.

"Winning is the candle on the cake for me. I had not won in two years until this February, but I would like to think that being a caring and loving partner, a good son, brother, friend, and teammate is more important."

"It is also important to continue to enjoy cycling and the interesting places it takes you. We must take it one day at a time."

Giohegan Hart won the 2020 Giro d'Italia, and while the result stands out among his parma, his character and charisma characterize him more than Maglia Rosa.

But he is ambitious and serious about taking chances. This season he has a new coach and has trained less, but his form and results are much better.

He won a stage at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana in February and finished third overall at Tirreno-Adriatico.

He earned the right to play a protected role in the Ineos Grenadiers for the Giro d'Italia.

Geraint Thomas' Parma gives him interim team leader status, but as in 2020, Geoghegan Hart will wait for his chance and give it his all.

"I won a Grand Tour two years ago, so it's not like I won't be on the start line thinking about something else," he said, brushing off low expectations and adding a sense of reality.

"I'm not going in as a 100% favorite to win, and there are a lot of top riders on the team who also have ambitions for that race. But I'm certainly looking forward to it."