Alex Baudin Takes Yellow Jersey After Solo Win in Tour Auvergne‑Rhône‑Alpes Stage 1

French rider Alex Baudin (EF Education‑EasyPost) secured a solo victory on the opening stage of the 2026 Tour Auvergne‑Rhône‑Alpes. Covering 146.2 km from Vizille to Saint‑Ismier, he attacked on the Côte de Rousset and finished with a one‑minute gap, posting a time of 3:43:58. The win awarded him the race leader’s yellow jersey, as well as the mountain and combativity jerseys. He was joined on the podium by Ramses Debruyne (Alpecin‑Deceuninck) in second and Léo Bisiaux (Decathlon CMA CGM) in third.

In a post‑race interview, Baudin revealed he had suffered food‑borne illness the day before the stage, saying he only realized the problem 500 metres from the finish. Despite the setback, he described the victory as the biggest of his career and noted his family were present to celebrate. The result places Baudin in the overall lead ahead of the next marathon‑length stage slated for June 8, which will feature 3 700 m of climbing and a finish in Le Puy‑en‑Velay.