Alex Baudin is the new leader of the Romandie Tour. Beaten by the Italian Lorenzo Fortunato, the Frenchman would have preferred to sign the stage victory than to put on the yellow jersey.
‘I have some regrets because I go bike to win races. The general classification is not really what I am looking for at the end ‘, said the runner of the EF team at a press conference. ‘But now that I have this jersey, I’m going to do everything to keep it.’
The native of Albertville knows the French roads well, he who had signed two successes of stages on the Tour du Pays de Vaud, among the juniors. ‘It is not very far from my home, so my family was present on arrival. It was great to have their support, “he added.
An elder from Tudor
-Baudin, who had brought the colors of the Swiss team Tudor in 2022, aimed rather on the stage victory on Friday around Cossonay. ‘The slope arrival corresponds more to my qualities’. But with his yellow jersey, it will be more difficult for him to escape the vigilance of the teams of favorites to the final victory.
On Wednesday, he took advantage of the fact that the latter (Evenepoel, Almeida, Rodriguez and Cie) failed to collaborate to escape with Lorenzo Fortunato, the winner of the day, and three other runners. ‘I knew that the big leaders were going to look at each other and I took advantage of it. And there was still Hugh Carthy (Red: his teammate at EF) who controlled behind ‘, underlined Baudin.
The Frenchman fears, however, that his yellow jersey will not resist long climb to Thyon 2000 on Saturday. ‘There is a way to keep it tomorrow (Red: Friday) but Saturday, it will really be necessary to give everything.’
/ATS
