ALAPHILIPPE. "MY NEW ADVENTURE WITH TUDOR, MY DESIRE FOR CLASSICS AND TOUR..."

INTERVIEW | 09/01/2025 | 08:20
di Francesca Monzone
Julian Alaphilippe made his first official appearance with his new team, Tudor by Fabian Cancellara, and although it is not a World Tour team, he is optimistic about his race schedule, which has not yet been officially established as they are waiting for wild cards for the Classics and Grand Tours.
"The only thing I can say about my program is that I will start in Portugal with the Figueira Classic on February 16th - explained the two-time world champion - then continue with the Algarve (from February 19th to 23rd). Paris-Nice (March 9-16) could also be in my program. Essentially, Amstel, Liège, Lombardy, and Tour stages are the races that motivate me the most. The Tour of Flanders will probably remain a dream, but I want to keep trying."
The French champion left Soudal Quick-Step after eleven seasons and many victories, and for him, a new adventure has begun with a team he believes in very much. In France, there have been several criticisms of Alaphilippe's choice, because instead of preferring a World Tour team, he opted for a lower-category formation and therefore cannot yet say anything precise about the races he will participate in.
"Honestly, World Tour or not, this has never been a problem for me. I have always followed my feelings. I asked myself: what do I want? I want to enjoy cycling in a good structure. The Tudor project corresponds to what I want, and there's nothing more to add."
Due to his fall at the World Championships in Zurich, Alaphilippe could not have a farewell race with Soudal-Quick Step, and although this partly disappointed him, he now looks ahead to a future where he wants to compete on equal terms with the best. "My goodbye did not go as I would have wanted, but we had known for some time that I was working on my last races for the team. Since I decided I would leave, I tried to enjoy every moment as much as possible."
In the last two years, the relationship between Loulou and Patrick Lefevere was quite turbulent, but the Frenchman always tried to keep the dialogue open, even though he ultimately had to go to another team. "Everyone knows that I am a person who attaches great importance to personal relationships. I will always carry in my heart some people who have worked with me for several years: yesterday I met Soudal at the airport, and it was nice to see them again even though we will no longer race together. When I decided to leave, I called Lefevere myself, and we had a nice conversation. We understood each other. Then I did not know that he would leave the team, and I do not know if it was entirely his choice, but at the same time, I was not very surprised." The transalpine has signed a three-year contract with Tudor, and for him, this could be the team with which he will end his career as a rider.
"It is certainly possible that I will end my career here. At the moment, I do not think about it too much because I always take one season at a time. But when my contract expires, I will be 35 years old. If I am still at the highest level then, I will be happy to continue, but we'll see."
There is much talk about safety and how to limit speed during races. Alaphilippe shares the view of many of his colleagues and thinks that the reduced gear system to decrease speed could be a good idea to limit falls during races. "There is still much to do for our safety, but reducing speed could certainly be a good measure. All of us cyclists want to contribute to safety in our sport. We are in contact with Adam Hansen, president of the riders' union, to find solutions. It is an important problem that cannot be easily solved. I do not feel unsafe in the race, but I feel that this is becoming more dangerous year after year. We are going faster and faster, and some riders are taking more and more risks, and this is a dangerous combination. Serious accidents happen every year, but I hope that in the future, all this can be avoided."

COMMENTI

Per poter commentare i post devi esser registrato.
Se sei giá nostro utente esegui il login altrimenti registrati.

TBRADIO

00:00

CICLOCROSS

COPPA DI FRANCIA. SPARFEL CALA LA DOPPIETTA A NOMMAY E CONFERMA IL SUO TALENTO

Doppietta d'autore per Auben Sparfel nella Coppa di Francia di Ciclocross. Il giovane francese ha dominato la due giorni di Nommay, imponendosi in entrambe le prove riservate alla categoria elite e confermando tutte le qualità che ne fanno uno...

CICLOCROSS

SUPERPRESTIGE. VANTHOURENHOUT DOMINA A OVERIJSE, POKER DI SUCCESSI IN TRE SETTIMANE

Assolo di Michael Vanthourenhout nella prova inaugurale del Superprestige elite disputata a Overijse, in Belgio. L'ex campione europeo della Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw ha imposto fin dalle prime fasi il proprio ritmo, riuscendo a staccare progressivamente tutti gli avversari e...

CICLOCROSS

SLOVACCHIA. DOPPIETTA TRICOLORE A TOPOLCIANKY: BRAMATI DAVANTI E PELLIZOTTI NELLA GARA FEMMINILE

Come Alessio Borile tra gli juniores, anche Lucia Bramati firma la doppietta nel fine settimana di Topolcianky. La vicentina della Fas Airport Services Guerciotti Premac si è infatti imposta anche nella seconda prova del ciclocross slovacco riservata alle donne...

PROFESSIONISTI

CAMPIONATI D'AFRICA. ORMISTON CHIUDE LA RASSEGNA CON IL TITOLO TRA GLI ELITE

Il colpo da finisseur di Callum Ormiston regala al Sudafrica l’ennesimo titolo ai Campionati Africani di ciclismo su strada, premiando un ventiseienne corridore che ha articolato gran parte della sua stagione sulle strade asiatiche, lui che è portacolori della cinese...

CICLOCROSS

SUPERPRESTIGE. BRAND FIRMA LA PRIMA PROVA DI OVERIJSE, GARIBOLDI 11A SFIORA LA TOP-TEN

Brilla la maglia iridata di Lucinda Brand nella prova inaugurale del Superprestige donne elite disputata a Overijse, in Belgio. La campionessa del mondo olandese ha preso in mano la corsa fin dalle battute iniziali, facendo subito la differenza e...

CICLOCROSS

SVIZZERA. FAS AIRPORT GUERCIOTTI A FORZA QUATTRO: VINCONO DELL'OLIO, LONGHI, IRENE E NICOLE RIGHETTO

Poker di vittorie della Fas Airport Services Guerciotti Premac nel Ciclocross di Mettmenstetten, valida come terza manche della Swiss Cup in Svizzera. Francesco Dell'Olio, Nicole Righetto, Alex Natan Longhi e Irene Righetto firmano una giornata speciale per i colori...

CICLOCROSS

SLOVACCHIA. BORILE (DP66 PINARELLO) CONCEDE IL BIS A TOPOLCIANKY

Alessio Borile si conferma protagonista in Slovacchia. Il portacolori della DP66 Pinarello ha infatti conquistato anche la seconda prova del NoLimited di Topolcianky riservata alla categoria juniores, centrando il secondo successo consecutivo nel fine settimana. Il friulano ha replicato...

MERCATO

BARDIANI-CSF 7 SABER. ARRIVA DAVIDE DE CASSAN, QUATTRO VITTORIE PER LUI NEL 2026

La Bardiani-CSF 7 Saber annuncia l'ingaggio di Davide De Cassan per la stagione 2027. Il corridore veronese, classe 2002, è il terzo nuovo arrivo ufficializzato dalla formazione emiliana, dopo Juan David Sierra e Simone Raccani. Scalatore particolarmente adatto ai percorsi...

PROFESSIONISTI

PLUGGE. «CREDO CHE VINGEGGARD POSSA PUNTARE ANCORA A VINCERE IL TOUR, LAVORIAMO PER QUESTO»

A Parigi, in occasione della presentazione del Tour de France 2027, Jonas Vingegaard non era presente, ma a dar voce al Team Visma – Lease a Bike c’era il Ceo Richard Plugge, convinto che per il danese la sfida con ...

PROFESSIONISTI

PRUDHOMME. «TOUR 2027, POGACAR E' IL FAVORITO CON QUALUNQUE PERCORSO, MA COME TORNERA' DOPO LA CADUTA?»

Il percorso è stato svelato giovedì scorso: per il Tour 2027, parlando di vincitori e favoriti e lanciando uno sguardo alla prossima Grande Boucle, il percorso non sembrerebbe un ostacolo per Tadej Pogacar e questo lo porterebbe già ad essere...