Alex Baudin
"A special day"
"I am really happy to sign a top 10 on a stage of a grand tour for my first participation. It was a special day for me, especially being in the same breakaway as Valentin (Paret-Peintre). We were roommates in Chambéry during our junior years so it was special for us to live this moment together.
I had tried, without success, to get to the front several times since the beginning of this Giro d'Italia. So to do it today was a first satisfaction. With 30 riders in front, it was difficult to get organized. Unfortunately, we were trapped when the selection in this group took place. We were in the back to put on a rain jacket. I tried to anticipate before the ascent of Colle Braida by accelerating but it did not work. I lost a lot of energy in the battle. I did the sprint with what I had left."
"It was a special day for me, especially being in the same breakaway as Valentin (Paret-Peintre). We were roommates in Chambéry during our junior years so it was special for us to live this moment together.
The news
Mikael Cherel forced to retire
Mikael Cherel, ill, was forced to abandon during the 12th stage of the Giro d'Italia. He has been suffering from intestinal problems for three days. "I was hoping to get back in shape and recover from this virus. But the start was again very fast and I couldn't manage to stay in the peloton. I hung on as long as I could but I had no energy left," he says. For the last two days, I have not been able to eat properly. I'm sad to give up and let my teammates continue this Giro d'Italia without me.
4
The number
With Alex Baudin's 10th place on stage 12 in Rivoli, the AG2R CITROËN team has four top 10 finishes since the start of the 106th Giro d'Italia. Aurélien Paret-Peintre won stage 4 in Lago Laceno, Andrea Vendrame finished tenth in stage 3 and eighth in stage 5.
Aurelien Paret-Peintre is still in 10th place overall.
