Tour de France: Roglic closes gap at top as Irish trio put in sterling efforts

Nicolas Roche best of the Irish, while Sam Bennett, after coming so close to victory on Monday, fell back in the pecking order

Slovenia's Primoz Roglic celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the fourth stage of the Tour de France in Orcieres-Merlette on Tuesday. Picture: Christophe Ena/AP

Primoz Roglic reaffirmed his status as the Tour de France favourite as he won stage four to close the gap on Julian Alaphilippe in the yellow jersey.

The Slovenian's crash at the Criterium du Dauphine last month had raised questions over his fitness coming into the Tour but the way in which he sprang forward from his rivals to take victory ahead of countryman Tadej Pogacar seemed to answer them.