The final stage before the 2020 Tour de France (open in new tab) rest day ended with Egan Bernal (open in new tab) in the white jersey.

But the leader, Ineos Grenadier (open new tab), who is in second place overall after the ninth stage through the Pyrenees (open new tab), is more committed to winning more 2019 yellow jerseys in the remaining 12 days of racing than winning the white jersey They are focusing on.

Bernal lost time to new race leader Primoš Roglic (Jumbo Visma) in Larns, but thanks to the Col de Marie Blanc and time bonuses at the finish, he gained another 11 seconds.

The 23-year-old, who has yet to reach top form since abandoning the Criterium du Dauphiné due to back pain, seems to be getting better as the race progresses.

"I think it was another good day because it's not just about making or losing time," Bernal said after the finish.

"I think feeling on the bike is also important in this race. I felt better today than I did yesterday." [Today I really enjoyed the last climb. It's a really steep, short climb and it makes a big difference on climbs like this. I felt good and I have a little bit more confidence for the next race.

"I know I lost time to Roglic and Tadej Pogachar. But it's a three-week race and the last part of the race will be hard, so I'm just trying to be patient, stay focused, and take it one day at a time.

The Bernal vs. Roglic head-to-head that has been building excitement since the Tour de Ain and Dauphiné is likely to unfold in the second half of the race as the Tour heads east to the Massif Central, the Alps, and the Vosges mountains.

While Roglic seems to be on a roll since L'Ain, onlookers speculate that he may peak too early and fade during the Tour, as he did in the 2019 Giro d'Italia.

Bernal disagreed, praising his rival's intelligence and saying he would have learned from past experiences.

"He is an intelligent rider and an intelligent man, so I think he has learned a lot from the last Grand Tour," Bernal suggested.

"He attacked at full throttle in the last Grand Tour and he may do something different this year. He will take it one day at a time, work on his recovery, and give his best on every stage."

"I think he'll be able to take it one day at a time.

As for his strategy for the rest of the race, Bernal said he does not plan to target one stage. Rather, he said, it is important to focus on the moment, assess his own condition and that of his rivals, and then respond.

According to Bernal, today was not one of those days. He was one of the main contenders in the Col de Marie Blanquet, but was still behind Roglic in terms of top form when the Slovenian struck out to win a bonus second at the summit. Still, there is plenty of time left to win the race.

"It depends on the legs. I tried to get seconds today, but without the legs you can't do anything. But without the legs, you can't do anything. But without legs you can't do anything.

"It's not about saying, 'This is the stage to attack' or 'This is the climb. It's about riding the bike, feeling it, seeing the other riders, and at the right moment, on a good day, it can make a big difference. But it has to be one of those days [where] the other guys were really strong, and as I said before, this is the Tour de France, the biggest race in the world. I'm second in GC and I respect the other players.