Teams

Our Pro Team
Our Development Team

Coaching

Team EF coaching

EF Pro CyclingPro Team

ef.com

Racing

Tour de France Daily | Stage 7 | Baudin breaks away in Bretagne

Alex enjoys a dream day ahead of the peloton, cheered on by the French crowds

July 11, 2025

Alex Baudin got his best taste yet of everything that the Tour de France is all about today in Brittany.

Our French Tour rookie broke away on the road to the Mûr-de-Bretagne and spent most of the race in front of the peloton, cheered on by his home crowds.

After Ben Healy’s stunning solo victory on stage 6, Alex was hoping it was his day to go for the win. He and Neilson Powless went on the attack again and again, as the race tore out of Saint-Malo and finally forced a move to stick. Neilson drilled it over a rise and then Alex launched over top and was away with four other riders.

The break worked well together, spurred on by the cheers of the French crowds. Unfortunately, the GC favorites kept the move in check and brought them back before the first ascent of the Mûr-de-Bretagne.

Alex recalibrated his focus to helping Ben Healy in the finale. Unfortunately, the two of them were caught up in a crash before the final climb.They escaped without any injuries, but lost touch with the front of the race.

Then, there was nothing to do but soak in the Tour vibes up the Mûr-de-Bretagne.

Read Alex and Neilson’s thoughts from the finish line of stage 7 of the Tour de France.

Alex Baudin

It was a  super hard, super fast day in the breakaway. Unfortunately, the bunch didn't give us a lot of space, so I kept a little bit of energy in the finale to help Ben, but we crashed. I don't know how, but I tried to get him back then.

The crowds were amazing. I think I might be deaf now. On the Mûr, it was special. I heard my name so many times. It was really great. Thank you to everyone.

Neilson Powless

The plan was to make the breakaway with one of us. We were all jumping and in the end Alex was able to get in. We tried to shut things down behind. Unfortunately UAE wanted to control for the stage, and they never let the break get much time, so in the end it was another race for the GC riders but we still had to try, and on that finish we do not have anyone there to beat Tadej so we tried to go and get in front of it and unfortunately they kept it too close and we’ll have to go another day.

I went in a group of four, and thought that group would actually go, and then I could see Wout riding from behind. He wasn’t closing super quick, but I could tell he was going to get onto the wheel and then I gave it one last push over the top, because I could see Alex four to five positions down and I figured that if it was fast and strong, a move over the top could be it and luckily Alex had crazy legs today and he could take advantage of that moment and it was nice to punch there and see him up there.

Share this story

Featured Event

FRTour de France
Jul. 05, 2025 – Jul. 27, 2025
Stages
21
View raceAnimated Chevrons

More from Tour de France

Ben Healy reflects on his Stage 6 Tour de France victory
Tour de France Daily | Stage 6 | Ben Healy storms to incredible stage win
Tour de France Daily | Stage 5 | Caen before the storm
Team recipe: Oatly Pre-Ride Breakfast

Alex Baudin

Alex Baudin won the Tour de Limousin last year, finished second at the Coppa Bernocchi, and came third on GC at the Tour of Guangxi, but the 23-year-old from the French Alps says that his most memorable ride is still a month-long bikepacking adventure he took across Europe. He is going to fit right in in his first season in EF Education-EasyPost pink.

Alex is a punchy climber, who excels at sustained, explosive efforts like the Ardennes classics demand. His favorite race that he has done so far is the Clásica de San Sebastián. He also likes the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal and Québec, because his uncles, who now live in Canada, can come to cheer. But Alex always returns home to the Alps and the roads he has been riding ever since he was a child.

He first fell in love with cycling when he was four-years-old. His dad was a racer and would take him up into the mountains to watch the Tour de France whenever the race neared their Albertville home. Alex was soon tearing up climbs like the Cormet de Roselend with his father, emulating the heroes he’d seen attacking through the colorful crowds. His dad was his first coach and had to tell him to slow down.

As Alex got older, he began to train harder and soon established himself as one of the most promising young climbers in France. The mountains are where he is most at home.

As soon as snow falls in the Alps, Alex heads to his local cross-country trails. Gliding across meadows and through forests is a great way for him to build his fitness and get away from it all.

To fuel all his time outside, Alex also loves to cook. When he is done cycling, Alex thinks he might become a chef.

For now, his focus is 100 percent on cycling. He wants to fly in his first year in pink.

This summer, Alex will make his Tour de France debut. Watch him soar in the mountains all around France this July.

Full profileAnimated Chevrons

Neilson Powless

When Neilson Powless started racing X-Terra triathlons with his sister back home in Northern California, he just wanted to spend time outside and rip around the trails near his house. His first love was mountain biking. It was his best discipline in those off-road triathlons, and when he got to high school, there were all sorts of opportunities for him to compete in California’s mountain bike league. Soon, he was traveling with the US national team, racing junior world cups and championships against the world’s most talented mountain bikers. Race in and race out, Neilson proved he was one of them.

Then he decided he wanted to have a go on the road.

Neilson has progressed steadily since he turned pro in 2018, thanks to his hard work and diligent approach to training. In 2020, Neilson became the first tribally recognized Native North American to race the Tour de France. The next year, he won Spain’s greatest one-day race, the Clásica San Sebastián, and finished fifth at the world championships in Belgium. Neilson was stellar in 2022. After a strong campaign in the Ardennes, he finished fourth on GC at the Tour de Suisse and lit up the Tour de France. He finished the year off with a victory at the Japan Cup. In 2023, he won his first race of the year: the Grand Prix Cycliste de Marseille. He then won the overall at Étoile de Bèsseges and stormed the Flemish classics, finishing third at Dwars door Vlaanderen and fifth at De Ronde in his debut campaign on the cobbles.

He raced his fifth Tour de France in 2024 and played a big role in helping teammate Richard Carapaz win the King of the Mountains jersey. He capped off the year with wins at Gran Piemonte and Japan Cup.

Neilson got his 2025 season rolling in a big way at Dwars door Vlaanderen, where he took the victory in a three-versus-one sprint. After a strong spring, he wants to fulfil his life-long dream at the 2025 Tour de France and win a stage. He has come close before and knows that he has what it takes. The Tour is his home race.

Neilson lives in Nice, France with his wife and young daughter during the racing season. He enjoys exploring their adopted city and relaxing on the beach after hard rides through the Alps.

Full profileAnimated Chevrons