Tom Pidcock's race analysis at the summit of the Puy de Dome was as effective and interesting as his performance.

The steep Puy de Dome, where he will learn the Grand Tour at this year's Tour de France.

He was one of the big names as the steep gradient began, losing the battle for every second to Tadej Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma).

Pidcock finished 51 seconds behind Pogachar and 43 seconds behind Vingegaard, but finished with Simon Yates (Jayco Alura), nine seconds ahead of teammate and GC rider Carlos Rodriguez. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates), Jai Hindley (BORA-Hansgrohe), David Gaudou (Groupama-FDJ), and all the others lost more time, and Pidcock moved up from 9th overall to 7th, 5:26 behind Vingegaard.

While there have been good days and bad days in the Tour de France, Pidcock described stage 9 as a good day and an important lesson in Grand Tour racing.

"Carlos and I are both young guys and we are learning as much as we can. We have different careers than the other guys and we are running GC," Pidcock told Cycling News and Cycling Weekly after warming down in the shadow of the Ineos Grenadiers team bus.

"I'm getting stronger and more confident every day. I've never been in GC in a Grand Tour or major stage race, so every day is a learning experience."

"It's great to finish fourth in GC, but in a few days nobody will remember me.

Pidcock was there when Pogachar attacked Vingegaard in the last few kilometers of the Puy de Dome. He watched and learned from the front row.

"It was nice to be at the front of the race and at least "see" those two attackers," he joked.

"It's impressive to see those two sprinting for another minute when we were already on the threshold. It's impressive."

The higher Pidcock moves up the overall standings, the more he will have to fight to stay there. But Pidcock wants a stage win, and only a top-five finish is really worth fighting for.

"At this rate, even if I don't win a stage, I'll be happy to stay there; a top-five finish in GC would motivate me, but if I'm 10th or 9th, that doesn't matter," Pidcock explained honestly.

"I seem to be getting better with each GC day. But I also want to win a stage and get a trophy, and that's what motivates me.