Teams & Riders Julian Alaphilippe Discussion Thread

[Logic-is-your-friend]

If that's all, I'm very relieved. I know it's still tough injuries, but it sounds like something that can be recovered from. In time for the Tour? Questionable.

IIRC this is the exact same set of injuries that JVDB had in the 2011 TDF crash. Broken ribs, collapsed lung, broken scapula... He had exactly 40 days between the crash and the start of the Vuelta. He clearly wasn't at his best at the Vuelta but still managed to finish 8th in GC.

 

[thiscocks]

Recovering from that litany of injuries in less than 2 and a half months? I wouldn't count on it.

He shouldn't rush back. Take it slow don't return until close to 100%

Yeah I recon focus on being good for the Vuelta and then maybe Ill Lombardia or something. Although it would be tough for him to miss the tour he's not going to be in top shape so no point really.

 

[Skalman]

Yes absolutely horrible but still somehow a relief that it wasn't worse as it at one point seemed.
Hope he recovers without stress, The tour wont be the same without him!

 

[Rackham]

As always I hope he recovers his health, i.e. irrespective of sport.

I know these guys are supermen with an exceptional physical resilience, but if some normal random guy suffered a fractured shoulder blade, two fractured ribs & a collapsed lung, he wouldn't be thinking about doing high intensity sport two months later - least of all the Tour de France. I think he's given enough to the sport to have earned some downtime without the stress of needing to absolutely return as fast as possible.

On a personal note I don't enjoy seeing my Sunday afternoon heroes get smashed to pieces on tv. We all know the risk is part of the sport (in fact that risk adds a level of intensity, without doubt) but it's still sh*t when it happens.

 

[OlavEH]

Hope he is back and dominates next year. If there is one race I hope and think he deserves to win, it has to be LBL.

 

[Salvarani]

Hope he is back and dominates next year. If there is one race I hope and think he deserves to win, it has to be LBL.

I dont know if he "deserves" that one though. He should have already won it... if he did not want to bask so much in his glory, when he had the chance.

He could have also won Ronde too already, at least he had 1/3 of a chance. Might be the best chance he will get at that race.

Lombardia he has been pretty close also to winning too. 2nd and 6th.

Next year he will be thirty and I dont know how many more chances he will have. Hopefully he comes back to racing at this best once again. He is an aggressive and entertaining rider, but also been his own worst enemy a few times.

He could look back on a great career but Im sure it is a few races he regrets some of the decisions he made, when he was on fire and in the form of his life.

 

[ppanther92]

This season was a bit cursed for Ala from the beginning. Crash in Strade Bianche, crash in Brabantse Pijl, crash in LBL...

 

[Red Rick]

I dont know if he "deserves" that one though. He should have already won it... if he did not want to bask so much in his glory, when he had the chance.

He could have also won Ronde too already, at least he had 1/3 of a chance. Might be the best chance he will get at that race.

Lombardia he has been pretty close also to winning too. 2nd and 6th.

Next year he will be thirty and I dont know how many more chances he will have. Hopefully he comes back to racing at this best once again. He is an aggressive and entertaining rider, but also been his own worst enemy a few times.

He could look back on a great career but Im sure it is a few races he regrets some of the decisions he made, when he was on fire and in the form of his life.

If it wasn't for his World titles he'd be even less clutch than Van Aert.

 

[tobydawq]

If it wasn't for his World titles he'd be even less clutch than Van Aert.

But it is for his world titles so no good point here...

Apart from his Tour titles, Lance wasn't clutch either.

 

[hayneplane]

This season was a bit cursed for Ala from the beginning. Crash in Strade Bianche, crash in Brabantse Pijl, crash in LBL...

The rainbow curse didn’t get him last year but it has gotten its own back in big style this year

 

[Extinction]

I dont know if he "deserves" that one though. He should have already won it... if he did not want to bask so much in his glory, when he had the chance.

He could have also won Ronde too already, at least he had 1/3 of a chance. Might be the best chance he will get at that race.

Lombardia he has been pretty close also to winning too. 2nd and 6th.

Next year he will be thirty and I dont know how many more chances he will have. Hopefully he comes back to racing at this best once again. He is an aggressive and entertaining rider, but also been his own worst enemy a few times.

He could look back on a great career but Im sure it is a few races he regrets some of the decisions he made, when he was on fire and in the form of his life.

Yea but if he weren't so audacious (Audaces fortuna iuvat), he would not be the same entertaining rider you and I so enjoy. The flip side of this, however, is that his failures and travails are equally dramatic. You just can't have one without the other it seems.

 

[CyclistAbi]

If i remember correctly Ala once said he owes it to himself to give the Tour a proper try. Now such injury likely prevented him to try that in 2022.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Just read in local media that his injuries are severe and full recovery will take months. Tour is hence out of the picture. And a big question mark in regards to defending his WC title.

 

[Nick2413]

Just read in local media that his injuries are severe and full recovery will take months. Tour is hence out of the picture. And a big question mark in regards to defending his WC title.

I have a feeling he won’t be back until 2023. Really hope he can come back to full strength. He’s in a precarious position where age combined with his riding style and now this injury could permanently put him down a couple levels. Wishing him the best.

 

[Escarabajo]

I thought that it had been posted here, but from the podcast I heard it was two broken ribs and broken collarbone.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/julian-alaphilippe-abandons-liege-bastogne-liege-after-mass-crash/

It will be a while before he competes again.

 

[houtdffan]

If i remember correctly Ala once said he owes it to himself to give the Tour a proper try. Now such injury likely prevented him to try that in 2022.

He nearly won the tour 3 years ago. Only the very high mountains cost him

 

[Amazinmets87]

I have a feeling he won’t be back until 2023. Really hope he can come back to full strength. He’s in a precarious position where age combined with his riding style and now this injury could permanently put him down a couple levels. Wishing him the best.

Age? He's at peak age for a cyclist. Wouldn't think age related decline would be an issue until 33-34.

 

[Nick2413]

Age? He's at peak age for a cyclist. Wouldn't think age related decline would be an issue until 33-34.

It’s not that he’s old by any means but a year or two to get back to his best form would definitely not leave much room. Depends how he ages, if he’s like Valverde or more like Sagan who is only 2 years older and looks completely done.

 

[Netserk]

Age? He's at peak age for a cyclist. Wouldn't think age related decline would be an issue until 33-34.

Sagan is 32 and well after his peak. I think the average peak years are 26-29.

 

[glassmoon]

Sagan just imho doesn't care enough anymore with all the money they're throwing at him no matter the actual results...

 

[Amazinmets87]

I'm actually looking towards the Worlds. He has (had) a legitimate chance at a threepeat.

 

[Koronin]

Age? He's at peak age for a cyclist. Wouldn't think age related decline would be an issue until 33-34.

He's definitely at peak now. He should start to decline within the next year or two. Late 20's is typically peak.

He's 29 now, if he misses the rest of this season, that makes it a lost season and it will take some time to get back to his highest level, that likely will coincide with the start of a decline.

Just read in local media that his injuries are severe and full recovery will take months. Tour is hence out of the picture. And a big question mark in regards to defending his WC title.

That sounds pretty bad. If he's even able to ride by the Worlds it sound unlikely he'd be anywhere near the shape that's required to really compete for win or podium.

 

[BR2]

Just want to say it's very sad he's not going to be at the Tour and that it deserves a mention in his thread.

 

[Boes]

I suspect he's going Vuelta to prepare for WC?
I think it's probably his best choice but we will miss his raids...

I still hope some day to see a finale with MVP, Alafpolak, WVA and Poggyboy in a tour stage.

 

[Eeslliw]

I still hope some day to see a finale with MVP, Alafpolak, WVA and Poggyboy in a tour stage.

There were at least 2 stages in last year's Tour when this happened (1. stage when Alaph won and 3. stage when MvdP won and got yellow).