"This jersey is a reward for my efforts" - Alex Baudin aimed for yellow, but settles for polka dot jersey after stage 3

Cycling
Tuesday, 07 July 2026 at 03:00
Alex Baudin on the podium at the 2026 Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Alex Baudin is riding around in a great form in 2026 - and the Tour de France seems to be no exception to that rule. Already with his first breakaway, Baudin made a great impression. It wasn't enough for a victory, but the Frenchman has secured a small success thanks to a Mountains classification leader's jersey.
The third stage kicked off at a high pace, and multiple riders immediately lost contact in opening kilometers of the stage. But not Baudin, who was attentive from the beginning and managed to sneak into a 20-man breakaway after a lengthy battle to be part of the group.
The escapees never truly enjoyed a freedom as peloton offered at most a three-minute leash. Baudin also held a short-lived dream of yellow jersey - after he succeeded at securing it at Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes month earlier - but a polka dot jersey was the maximum on offer today.
"This jersey is a reward for my efforts today. It wasn’t my main objective; I wanted to win the stage and take the Maillot Jaune. With the legs I had, I really believed I could do it. I felt really good – that’s a good sign for the days ahead. But UAE wanted to win the stage. And when I saw the gap closing on the final stretch along those wide roads, with a headwind, I had my doubts… But the polka-dot jersey is a consolation," he said in a press release.

Dream come true

Regardless, this is a first major Grand Tour success for the 25-year-old Frenchman who now intends to fully enjoy the moment before stage 4, where he might have to set out on a defense of his lead.
"I can picture myself watching the Tour as a child, dreaming of that jersey. Along with the Yellow Jersey, it’s the one I’ve always wanted to wear one day. Now, you have to fight to keep a jersey. I’m going to try to recover and hold on to it for as long as possible."
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