After Imola in 2020 and Leuven in 2021, Julian Alaphilippe (France / Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) could write the history of cycling during the road race of the world championships in Wollongong (Australia), on Sunday. The Frenchman can join the restricted circle of riders who have won the world title three times and sit alongside the greatest like alfredo binda, eddy merckx either peter sagan. But his abandonment Back to SpainA few weeks ago, he shuffled the cards again. “I arrive with a lot of motivation, quite relaxed. I’m not in the best condition, that’s for sure. The last time I was in a race, I got injured. Once again, almost once too many. I’m definitely not 100%. I’m not going to be rotten either, but I’m also not going to arrive with the same guarantees as in previous years“, he explained during the press conference of the french teamthis Wednesday in Australia, broadcast among others by RTBF.
Video – Julian Alaphilippe before the World Cup and Sunday’s meeting
“There are riders from the French team who have done better than me in recent weeks”
Julian Alaphilippe (30 years old) also spoke about his role in the France team for the worlds : “I am one of the leaders but I am not the only leader and that suits me very well. Everyone knows my shape. There are riders from the French team who have done better than me in recent weeks and to whom the race suits them very well too. I will be very happy to do my best for them. It is by playing in the collective that we will go far.” The Saint-Amand-Montrond native must notably share leadership with benoit cosnefroy (AG2R Citroën Team) which replaced Remi Cavagna (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) for online racing.
“I don’t feel the pressure at all. Where I had a bit of pressure was in Imola (at the 2020 World Cup). Last year I was motivated and raced to win, but I was also ready to lose. I had zero pressure and I have even less here. Because I know how the last few weeks have been for me.“, declares the resident of Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Teamwhile indicating that it points to a good collective performance: “Of course we are here for a result and it will be the icing on the cake if we keep the jersey. I would be very happy to relive what we have been through for the last two years. And I think I would be even happier if one of my colleagues wins..”
Benoît Cosnefroy replaces Rémi Cavagna in Sunday’s elite men’s road race 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/thySeuejuv
– FFC (@FFCycling) September 21, 2022
“This world champion shirt asks a lot”
After two seasons in the rainbow jersey, Julian Alaphilippe he could still give up his robe. the winner of Milan-San Remo 2019 is thus divided between two sentiments: “On the one hand I say to myself: I look forward to next year so that I no longer have to wear the jersey and that I can, in quotes, go back to being a normal runner, less known, less in demand, more relaxed.. But on the other hand, this shirt is a dream, something so big that I can’t leave it like that, of course not! But it asks a lot, perhaps also because I take it to heart and I also give a lot. So whatever happens, whether I have the jersey for the third time or I don’t have it anymore, next week I will be very happy.”