Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) delivered a spectacular solo performance to capture the opening stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, securing the biggest victory of his career on home roads. The 146-kilometer route from Vizille to Saint-Ismier served up five categorized climbs designed to test the peloton’s pre-July form. Baudin initially infiltrated a nine-rider breakaway alongside teammate Alastair MacKellar before launching a decisive acceleration on the Category 1 Côte de Rousset with 28.5 kilometers remaining. Cresting the summit with over a minute in hand, the 25-year-old Frenchman committed to the descent and held off the favorites to cross the finish line alone.
Behind the solo leader, the General Classification battle claimed a few high-profile victims. While the main group of overall contenders was whittled down over the steep ramps of the Rousset, UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s João Almeida lost contact with the peloton, dropping out of the GC picture on day one. A select chase group mopped up the remaining time gaps, with Ramses Debruyne (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Léo Bisiaux (Decathlon CMA CGM) sprinting in 32 seconds behind Baudin to round out the stage podium.
The victory hands Baudin the first overall yellow jersey of the race, alongside the green points and polka dot mountains jerseys. Racing just an hour from his hometown, the Frenchman admitted he almost didn’t believe in his chances after battling a severe bout of food poisoning the day prior. He will now look to defend his 32-second overall advantage heading into Monday’s grueling 234-kilometer test to Le Puy-en-Velay as the peloton continues its crucial build-up toward the Tour de France.
Results
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