Teams & Riders Julian Alaphilippe Discussion Thread

[Akuryo]

Re:

Vuelta 2020 could make sense. It will most likely be Evenepoel's first GT as well. Not only could Evenepoel already be of help to Alaphilippe (should he try to go for GC), but it would make sense to build the team around them instead of a sprinter. But assuming Mas is gone, the only other guy they have that might survive some mountain stages, is James Knox. Maybe Serry and Devenyns (who will be 85 by then). Maybe Asgreen. But unless they sign new mountain guys, Ala & Remco would have to rely on each other in the real mountains. Assuming Evenepoel doesn't get out of the Vuelta in the second week, and assuming Ala can actually follow the favorites uphill.

EDIT: forgot Jungels... but is he going to dom in a GT?

We have seen it over the past two years with Jungels that he is a way better classics rider than a real GT prospect. Same with Alaphilippe (who has even said that he wants to win Liege, Lombardia and even Ronde before even thinking of going for a Grand Tour). Of course he will try to hang on to the yellow jersey for as long as possible but I doubt he'll do specific preparation for any GT in the near future. And why would he? He is one of the best classics riders of his generation. Why risk losing that by maybe getting a 5th place in a Vuelta? He is a very special rider even without any top placings in a Grand Tour.

 

[Bolder]

Re: Re:

Vuelta 2020 could make sense. It will most likely be Evenepoel's first GT as well. Not only could Evenepoel already be of help to Alaphilippe (should he try to go for GC), but it would make sense to build the team around them instead of a sprinter. But assuming Mas is gone, the only other guy they have that might survive some mountain stages, is James Knox. Maybe Serry and Devenyns (who will be 85 by then). Maybe Asgreen. But unless they sign new mountain guys, Ala & Remco would have to rely on each other in the real mountains. Assuming Evenepoel doesn't get out of the Vuelta in the second week, and assuming Ala can actually follow the favorites uphill.

EDIT: forgot Jungels... but is he going to dom in a GT?

We have seen it over the past two years with Jungels that he is a way better classics rider than a real GT prospect. Same with Alaphilippe (who has even said that he wants to win Liege, Lombardia and even Ronde before even thinking of going for a Grand Tour). Of course he will try to hang on to the yellow jersey for as long as possible but I doubt he'll do specific preparation for any GT in the near future. And why would he? He is one of the best classics riders of his generation. Why risk losing that by maybe getting a 5th place in a Vuelta? He is a very special rider even without any top placings in a Grand Tour.

For the challenge -- even a top 5 in a GT would be a huge addition to his palmares. For those who say "he can't hang in the high mountains because he's a one-day rider" -- wasn't Thomas pegged as a classics man not that long ago? He'd have to alter his training, of course, and he wouldn't go in hoping for a high GC placing without doing so.

It's interesting to speculate. He mentioned offhand in a French interview this year that he'd be interested in trying to compete in a GT. And he really seems to enjoy being in yellow.

 

[Akuryo]

Re: Re:

Vuelta 2020 could make sense. It will most likely be Evenepoel's first GT as well. Not only could Evenepoel already be of help to Alaphilippe (should he try to go for GC), but it would make sense to build the team around them instead of a sprinter. But assuming Mas is gone, the only other guy they have that might survive some mountain stages, is James Knox. Maybe Serry and Devenyns (who will be 85 by then). Maybe Asgreen. But unless they sign new mountain guys, Ala & Remco would have to rely on each other in the real mountains. Assuming Evenepoel doesn't get out of the Vuelta in the second week, and assuming Ala can actually follow the favorites uphill.

EDIT: forgot Jungels... but is he going to dom in a GT?

We have seen it over the past two years with Jungels that he is a way better classics rider than a real GT prospect. Same with Alaphilippe (who has even said that he wants to win Liege, Lombardia and even Ronde before even thinking of going for a Grand Tour). Of course he will try to hang on to the yellow jersey for as long as possible but I doubt he'll do specific preparation for any GT in the near future. And why would he? He is one of the best classics riders of his generation. Why risk losing that by maybe getting a 5th place in a Vuelta? He is a very special rider even without any top placings in a Grand Tour.

For the challenge -- even a top 5 in a GT would be a huge addition to his palmares. For those who say "he can't hang in the high mountains because he's a one-day rider" -- wasn't Thomas pegged as a classics man not that long ago? He'd have to alter his training, of course, and he wouldn't go in hoping for a high GC placing without doing so.

It's interesting to speculate. He mentioned offhand in a French interview this year that he'd be interested in trying to compete in a GT. And he really seems to enjoy being in yellow.

But Thomas was mostly a top 10 guy in the classics and not a favorite for every one day race he enters like Alaphilippe. And that is the big difference. Thomas had not much to lose. Except that one E3 Thomas did not win any classics of note. Alaphilippe already has MSR, 2x Fleche, San Sebastian and Strade in his palmares and is 6 years younger. So while Thomas gave up a few more top 10s in "s#!tty small races" Alaphilippe probably would have to give up a few monuments in order to really go for GTs.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Yes, Alaphillippe and Thomas' classics careers aren't comparable. However, Thomas had just had his best classics campaign when he decided to re-focus onto the Grand Tours, and was in fact the pre-race favourite for RVV that year.

And yes, it's riskier for Alaphillippe to retrain as a GC contender given the opportunity cost in the classics, but there's also the argument that he'd probably have a higher ceiling as a GC contender than Thomas does as a GC contender, and he's a Tour winner.

 

[Bolder]

I watched the last 30km of the Epernay stage last night on replay. That was perhaps a more impressive ride than stage 9. He basically rode away from the field on a rolling finish. Maybe Ineos didn't try very hard, but the sprint teams were there too.

 

[Akuryo]

What a performance today. We knew he was solid in time trials (7th at Dauphine, 4th at Itzulia, 1st in San Juan to name only the good results in 2019 alone) but this was definitely something else! How long can he hang on? He basically only has one helper in the mountains and Enric Mas will probably have some aspirations himself. So the real work is up to the likes of Asgreen and Devenyns...

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Not bad today. He'll do a Contador for the next couple of days and hang onto the coat tails of other trains and maybe hold on to yellow.

 

[Flamin]

Greatest bike rider in the world. I absolutely love this guy. Let's hope he doesn't crack tomorrow already, for excitement's sake.

Oh, and Lefevre is a genius.

 

[yaco]

Expect QS to have Viviani, Morkov, Richeze and Lampaert to control the peleton - You can hold back Asgren and Devenyms for part of the mountains.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re: Julian Alaphilippe

That was absolutely amazing.

To win a time trial like that is astonishing. Yet, I do want to remark it was a very hard hilly profile, and he has already shown he can keep good power on the flat. So it's not too much of a huge surprise considering his earlier TT wins.

High mountains is still something else, so I don't really believe at all in the talks of Tour win right now. Even if it would be fun to see.

 

[Blanco]

What a season so far! Best rider in the world, no doubt. I wonder how long is he going to last in yellow, he could survive Pyrenees maybe...

 

[Midnightfright]

Re:

What a season so far! Best rider in the world, no doubt. I wonder how long is he going to last in yellow, he could survive Pyrenees maybe...

I hope at the very least he is in touching distance tomorrow. Keep it interesting and give Ineos a reason to attack if he drops 3 minutes tomorrow I think we will just see the train drone here on out

 

[chuuurles]

Re: Julian Alaphilippe

If this was say the 2012 tour route could he win the gc?

 

[DanielSong39]

He could win the Tour in 2019.

He may not win, but what he's done so far is just incredible.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Julian Alaphilippe

If this was say the 2012 tour route could he win the gc?

That route probably would have been ideal for him, but beating Wiggins in 2 long, flat TT’s when in peak form? I’m not sure.

 

[DanielSong39]

Re: Julian Alaphilippe

If this was say the 2012 tour route could he win the gc?

That route probably would have been ideal for him, but beating Wiggins in 2 long, flat TT’s when in peak form? I’m not sure.

To be fair Alaphilippe's performance today probably would have gained time on Wiggins in both ITT's

 

[chuuurles]

Re: Julian Alaphilippe

I more meant this years competition with Julian in current form but on the 2012 course. A bit of mental gymnastics required, but he is such a great rider!

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

The bookmakers currently have him as the sixth biggest favourite to win the Tour after Thomas, Bernal, Pinot, Fuglsang and Quintana.

And now they have him as the second biggest favourite.

Cash! Out!

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Julian Alaphilippe

I more meant this years competition with Julian in current form but on the 2012 course. A bit of mental gymnastics required, but he is such a great rider!

Always hard to say, I guess we will find out with his form in the mountains over the next week. He’s certainly been exceptional so far.

 

[Cookster15]

Not so sure he won't hold on in the mountains. He danced away from the best climbers in the race to La Planche Des Belles Filles. Maybe recovery starts to be an issue. We will see.

 

[Midnightfright]

Re:

Not so sure he won't hold on in the mountains. He danced away from the best climbers in the race to La Planche Des Belles Filles. Maybe recovery starts to be an issue. We will see.

I'm sorry but he didnt dancer away from the beat climbers on Planche Des Belles Filles. Unless you cant the 50m before he got over took my Thomas and Pinot etc

I suspect that little passage succinctly shows where he will fail although I hope he an show in the big mountain stages

 

[Ripper]

Re:

Not so sure he won't hold on in the mountains. He danced away from the best climbers in the race to La Planche Des Belles Filles. Maybe recovery starts to be an issue. We will see.

This weekend will certainly tell the story about his capacity in the high mountains. And if he succeeds there, then the end of next week for his tolerance for three weeks. The multiple TT effect of long mountain days remains a bit of a mystery, but not for long.

Mas is looking pretty good lurking where he is ...

 

[Poursuivant]

He’s the type of rider who would probably attack tomorrow.

 

[lartiste]

Re:

He’s the type of rider who would probably attack tomorrow.

Best option for him would be to sit behind Sky train and let them do the work for him or to loose the Tour. But it is not his style, he will try to do something :lol: . I hope, that at least he can change the dynamics of the race.

 

[Pantani_lives]

While Thomas has only focused one one race all year, Alaf has dominated the spring. It's impressive that he had enough left to dominate the first twoweeks of the Tour.

However he needs a miracle now. I still think he can obly top 10 at best, won't be able to follow in the high mountains.