Monday's virtual yellow jersey Alex Baudin spoke about the greed of the UAE and Tadej Pogacar at the Tour de France

Everyone assumed that Monday’s third stage of the Tour de France would present a golden opportunity for the breakaway riders to make a bid for the stage win and go for the yellow jersey. Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) was tipped to do well beforehand and lived up to expectations, but ultimately saw UAE take control heading toward Les Angles.

Baudin was among the EF Education-EasyPost riders who were allowed to launch an attack. The Frenchman, who had also worn the yellow jersey in the Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, went all out and was in the breakaway almost all day. While his teammate Richard Carapaz—who ultimately finished third—wasn’t allowed to join, Baudin was part of the group of nineteen.

"It was a really great and fast day right from the start," Baudin said afterward in front of the Eurosport camera. “We really had to fight hard to get into the lead group. And… yeah, I think the yellow jersey was definitely within reach today. So I put a lot of energy into staying with the group, and then into building up the lead and all that.”

In the end, UAE Emirates-XRG decided to chase down the breakaway group after all. Baudin reacted accordingly, changed tactics, and set his sights on the mountains classification. So, no yellow jersey. “But anyway, at least my efforts to earn the polka-dot jersey weren’t for nothing. It’s a nice reward.”

When asked if he understands UAE’s tactics, Baudin responds cautiously. “Well, as I said: that polka-dot jersey wasn’t my primary goal. (laughing) I think there was a real chance to take the yellow jersey today. But of course, that also depended on how UAE wanted to approach the stage. In a way, it’s understandable that they want to win—that’s just how the race goes. But at least I gave it a shot.”

So what’s the prevailing feeling right now? “Yeah, I was really, really strong today. It’s just… well, I did waste some energy here and there: at the start, in the middle, and even at the end. It really wasn’t the ideal final stage to ride alone. They were wide, open roads, right into the wind…...that really wasn’t ideal. Toward the end, I was still able to pick up the pace a bit, but by then my tank was practically empty,” said Baudin, who has thus secured the polka-dot jersey and may get another chance on Tuesday.