'I had food poisoning yesterday morning' - Baudin defies the odds to win Dauphiné opener

The 146.2km opening stage from Saint-Chamond to Villars-les-Dombes featured 3,160m of climbing, with a final ascent of 8.2km at 7.6% before a fast descent to the line. 

Baudin had been in the day's breakaway and went solo on the closing climb, holding the chase off down the descent and across the closing flat kilometres to take the win.

Baudin, who hails from Albertville, was overwhelmed at the line.

"I don't think I realise it yet. I don't know what to say, it's crazy," Baudin said in his post-stage interview.

The Frenchman explained in his post-win interview that the stage had been a clear target pre-race, but illness had the potential to derail that opportunity.

"I'd planned this stage. I'd targeted it. There was something to do here. I was a bit afraid of not being good enough, because I had food poisoning yesterday morning before coming here. I have to admit I wasn't at all confident at the start," said Baudin.

Baudin's solo move came in the closing kilometres, with the Frenchman holding off the chase to take a 32-second gap on Debruyne and the rest of the leading group. 

The win delivers him the yellow jersey but also the green, polka dot, and white jerseys. As Baudin can only wear one, the others will be loaned to Debruyne (green), Sergio Samitier (polka dots) and Bisiaux (white) for stage 2.

Baudin's home connection added emotional weight to the result, with the Frenchman finishing the stage less than an hour from his family home. "It's even more beautiful to do this at home. My family is here."

The Frenchman explained how a small detail from the morning had stuck with him.

"It's funny because this morning, my girlfriend put a little sticker of my cat on my stem. It was maybe a sign today. It maybe helped me to push a little harder. Maybe it was a sign that I would win today."

Asked whether the yellow jersey was looking forward to July as well as the rest of the week, Baudin was clear on his ambitions.

"I hope to be able to carry this confidence and this form to the Tour de France in July."

Stage 2 on Monday is a 234.3km route, the longest of the race, with 3,685m of climbing across five categorised ascents. Baudin and EF Education-EasyPost will defend the yellow jersey for as long as they can.

"It won't be easy tomorrow, with this super long race. But it's a yellow jersey, you have to defend it. We'll do everything," concluded Baudin

In more good news for Baudin, posting on social media platform X, team boss Jonathan Vaughters announced that he had signed Alex Baudin to a contract extension just last week.