Unexpected turn: Baudin Relinquishes Yellow Jersey

After a promising two-day stint in the coveted yellow jersey, Alex Baudin’s reign at the Tour de Romandie concluded abruptly on the challenging slopes leading to Thyon 2000. The EF Education-Easypost rider, who had anticipated a demanding stage, found himself unable to maintain his lead, succumbing to the relentless climb.

The Climactic Ascent: A Struggle for Baudin

Baudin’s difficulties became apparent early in the 21-kilometer final ascent.As he explained to Directvelo shortly after crossing the finish line, My heart was not going up. I couldn’t press, I was 300 watts. Frankly, it was ridiculous. Even in training, I could go up faster. His struggle highlighted the unpredictable nature of professional cycling, where even the strongest competitors can face unexpected challenges.

Currently, cycling analysts note that even slight dips in performance can drastically affect a rider’s standing in mountainous stages. Factors such as fatigue accumulation from previous races, as Baudin mentioned, and even minor health issues can play a significant role.

Resilience in Defeat: Maintaining Focus After Losing Ground

Once detached from the leading group, Baudin’s focus shifted to simply completing the stage. It was super long, especially that we let go a little in the heads in these moments. I knew that by letting go so far, I was not going to make a feat, with hard legs like concrete, he admitted.He eventually finished well outside the top 40, more than ten minutes behind his fellow countryman lenny Martinez, who seized the yellow jersey.

Looking Back: A Valuable Learning Experience

Despite the disappointing outcome, Baudin reflected positively on his experience as race leader, marking it as a great experience in his WorldTour career. He acknowledged the crucial support from his team, stating, I still had a great team to support me today. It allowed us to make the stage in front and especially in the descents. We were all the time well placed, so it was top. Even with the setback at Grande Béroche, where lorenzo Fortunato caught him off guard, Baudin considers the week a valuable learning opportunity.

The Road Ahead: Rest and Recovery

Looking ahead, Baudin emphasized the need for rest and recovery after a demanding series of races. It will be necessary. I have made a good chain with Basque-Ardennaises and romandie Country. I pay it a little, I start to be burnt, he explained, indicating the physical toll of competing at the highest level. This highlights the importance of strategic rest periods in a cyclist’s training regimen to prevent burnout and optimize performance.