The return of Julian Alaphilippe, between novelty, force of habit and revenge spirit

Absent in 2024, Julian Alaphilippe is back on the big loop this year with a new team, and the teeth still as long despite its 33 years.

If some doubted it, the rock star of the peloton is still him. At 33, Julian Alaphilippe keeps the darling costume of the tricolor public, which cheers him wherever he puts his wheels. What almost make tears flow on his legendary goat in Artagnan, during the presentation of the teams in Lille, Thursday, July 3. “The atmosphere is boiling, I had missed it. It really warmed my heart, it's great. A big thank you to everyone”, Savor the winner of the day at the applaudimeter, in front of Tadej Poagacar and the Belgians Wout Van Aert and Remco Evenepoel.

Absent in 2024, after playing the Giro and preferring to prepare for the Olympic race, Julian Alaphilippe took the departure of his seventh Tour de France on nine years on Saturday. A race that made double world champion the darling of the French public. And for good reason, “Loulou” has lifted his arms six times since 2018, while winning the polka dot jersey in 2018, but especially by spending 18 days in yellow in total, including 14 in 2019. A large assessment which does not satisfy it: “The yellow jersey is always a dream. I want to give the maximum, to have no regrets in Paris, to seize the opportunities.”

Stage winner in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, and therefore used to shining on the Route du Tour, Julian Alaphilippe set off on this 112nd edition with the strength of habit. But also with a certain revengeful spirit. Package in 2022, frustrated because without victory in 2023, and absent in 2024, the double world champion intends to set the record straight, with the tudor jersey on the back, even if it is reduced by a virus from the start.

“I am not here to hello, even if I am grateful to the support of the public. I do not rest for that, I want to give great things again, to live beautiful emotions, to make young people and people dream”he announced before departure. After two days of racing, he already proved that the legs were good in finishing 5th from a royal arrival at the foot of the castle of the Counts of Boulogne, Sunday, behind Van der Poel, Pogacar, Vingegaard and Vauquelin. “I'm happy to feel better, it gives me confidence for the days to come”recognized the French on arrival.

Especially since Julian Alaphilippe has a new jersey on his back, that of the Swiss team Tudor, which he joined this winter after having known only Sudal-Quick Step for eleven years. Since the emergence of Remco Evenepoel, the Frenchman was no longer the number one in the Belgian team, and often the target of the criticisms of Patrick Lefévère, emblematic boss of the Wolfpack. A context which undoubtedly contributed, in part, to the drop in regime of French, winner of only three races in 2023.

“I feel very good in this team. I had never lost pleasure, but being in a new environment, it motivates me. I feel really good.”

Julian Alaphilippe

In Franceinfo: Sport

“I am super happy to be back on the Tour de France, and to do it with my new team who discovers the race. It will be special. We have a strong and homogeneous team”announced the Frenchman before the start of the race. Always silent for the moment in 2024, despite a very good tour of Switzerland in June (5th of the general), Julian Alaphilippe does not hide his hunger of victory: “I am upset there … I have already started the tour without having won since the start of the season, you have to stay calm. I did everything I could in my preparation”. Because if he changed creamers this winter, the D'Artagnan du Peloton did not change his habits before Tour, with a long internship at altitude.

“I will always be more a punker than a climber”recalls “Alaf”, which mainly targets the many stages for the first week for the first week. “I like this start of the round, with a lot of opportunities. The rest will be very hard but it is a long path to Paris, it will be necessary to be strong and patient”anticipates the one who, despite his 6 stage victories on the Tour, is still so hungry after three years of galley.

“Winning a stage now would have a different flavor. Each victory on the Tour is unique, but winning this year after the last seasons that have been more difficult, it would be magnificent.”

Julian Alaphilippe

In Franceinfo: Sport

For this, Julian Alaphilippe can count on experienced training, despite his guest team status, notably with Matteo Trentin, Marco Haller, Marc Hirschi and Michael Storer. “The experience is always important, to know how to stay calm. We are used to running together, we know the qualities of each, and the first is our motivation. We are hungrywarns the double world champion, It would be a successful lap for us if we can win a stage and everyone arrives in Paris “. A little more if this stage victory was signed by the tip of the D'Artagnan du Peloton sword.