Teams & Riders Julian Alaphilippe Discussion Thread

[Netserk]

Is it too soon to call him washed?

Wait until after the WCRR.

 

[jmdirt]

Is it too soon to call him washed?

Yes

 

[Eeslliw]

Is it too soon to call him washed?

Yes, give a man full season without setbacks and we can talk.

 

[staubsauger]

Yes, give a man full season without setbacks and we can talk.

So Quintana isn't washed?

 

[Anderis]

Yes, give a man full season without setbacks and we can talk.

So Quintana isn't washed?

So Gesink isn't washed?

 

[frisenfruitig]

I don't know, he did say he had a very good winter and was able to prepare well. His performances during the start of the season weren't bad but also not what we are used to from him. Too early to say for sure but I am starting to feel like he's past it, which I know wouldn't make sense considering his age.

 

[Kwaremonster]

I don't know, he did say he had a very good winter and was able to prepare well. His performances during the start of the season weren't bad but also not what we are used to from him. Too early to say for sure but I am starting to feel like he's past it, which I know wouldn't make sense considering his age.

Wouldn't it, isn't 30 a common age where riders decline? Not a given ofcourse but it seems to happen frequently.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Wouldn't it, isn't 30 a common age where riders decline? Not a given ofcourse but it seems to happen frequently.

Not to this extent. Usually athletes are still close to their peak at that age if they take care of themselves and don't suffer from serious injuries with long-term effects.

 

[Salvarani]

Not to this extent. Usually athletes are still close to their peak at that age if they take care of themselves and don't suffer from serious injuries with long-term effects.

He has had injuries though and maybe a little bit of loss in motivation? He is at an age where it could be common. He will be 31 in June and been a great rider for about 7 straight seasons, since finishing 2nd in Fleche and LBL in 2015.

32-34 is where many riders retire. Very few can race on and be close to their best all the way.

Pinot is just about 2 years older and will retire at the end of the season. Wouldnt be surprised to see Ala go the same route in a year or so.

 

[staubsauger]

Alaphilippe should now cautiously prepare for the Vuelta a Espana & Fall classics.

Jean-Claude Leclercq always states that you win every race in fall with springs shape.

Since Alaphilippe didn't get his act together at all this spring and now also is injured and out for the Ardennes classics he should be super fresh if he peaks for fall now.

Forget about the Tour de France then.

 

[pastronef]

Alaphilippe should now cautiously prepare for the Vuelta a Espana & Fall classics.

Jean-Claude Leclercq always states that you win every race in fall with springs shape.

Since Alaphilippe didn't get his act together at all this spring and now also is injured and out for the Ardennes classics he should be super fresh if he peaks for fall now.

Forget about the Tour de France then.

a single breakaway or a day in polka dots, let alone stage win in France, will get Quickstep more coverage than a fall classics win.

 

[Netserk]

Alaphilippe should now cautiously prepare for the Vuelta a Espana & Fall classics.

Jean-Claude Leclercq always states that you win every race in fall with springs shape.

Since Alaphilippe didn't get his act together at all this spring and now also is injured and out for the Ardennes classics he should be super fresh if he peaks for fall now.

Forget about the Tour de France then.

Lombardia is too hard for him, so he should skip the Tour (and the WCRR?!) to better target Bretagne Classic? Lol.

 

[staubsauger]

Lombardia is too hard for him, so he should skip the Tour (and the WCRR?!) to better target Bretagne Classic? Lol.

I said the Vuelta and the classics.

And what is the purpose of riding the Tour de France in Bad shape rather than riding a strong fall program?

 

[Netserk]

I said the Vuelta and the classics.

And what is the purpose of riding the Tour de France in Bad shape rather than riding a strong fall program?

He doesn't have to be in peak shape to get a breakaway stage win in the Tour, just back to solid. Then he would actually be ready for Glasgow.

After the Vuelta? Nothing for him to win.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Alaphilippe should now cautiously prepare for the Vuelta a Espana & Fall classics.

Jean-Claude Leclercq always states that you win every race in fall with springs shape.

Since Alaphilippe didn't get his act together at all this spring and now also is injured and out for the Ardennes classics he should be super fresh if he peaks for fall now.

Forget about the Tour de France then.

No No, that would really make the 'Allez Alain Philippe' joke real and there would be banners everywhere.

 

[Red Rick]

He doesn't have to be in peak shape to get a breakaway stage win in the Tour, just back to solid. Then he would actually be ready for Glasgow.

I actually disagree with that. It's not like Alaphilippe has mopped up a dozen stages in the last few years. He is not good enough to 'easily' win these mountain stage breakaways, and there's no standout stages with soft uphill finishes in breakaways or anything either.

He was ready for Imola after meme attacking for 3 weeks, so there's that, but Glasgow should suit him less and the competition will be a lot stiffer

 

[Rob5091]

If he's got any shape I'd send him to the Tour as it's the biggest event in the cycling calendar and the first 3 stages he can do well in (providing a certain Slovenian does not want to race from km 0 on stage 1).

 

[Red Rick]

If he's got any shape I'd send him to the Tour as it's the biggest event in the cycling calendar and the first 3 stages he can do well in (providing a certain Slovenian does not want to race from km 0 on stage 1).

Well you can guarantee 100% Pogacar will light it up, if only for meme bonus seconds. So the only 2 stages that suit Alaphilippe will already be eaten by GC battle.

Is it already known where the bonus sprints will be?

 

[jmdirt]

Missing the hilly classics...F! for for him, man!

 

[Rob5091]

Bonus sprints?! We have n't even got all the stage profiles yet!

 

[tobydawq]

I actually disagree with that. It's not like Alaphilippe has mopped up a dozen stages in the last few years. He is not good enough to 'easily' win these mountain stage breakaways, and there's no standout stages with soft uphill finishes in breakaways or anything either.

He was ready for Imola after meme attacking for 3 weeks, so there's that, but Glasgow should suit him less and the competition will be a lot stiffer

"meme attacking"?

 

[tobydawq]

Well you can guarantee 100% Pogacar will light it up, if only for meme bonus seconds. So the only 2 stages that suit Alaphilippe will already be eaten by GC battle.

Is it already known where the bonus sprints will be?

"meme bonus seconds"?

 

[BR2]

All the people who didn't write one sentence in this thread when he had his big successes, but come here to say he's washed now...

 

[Rackham]

"meme bonus seconds"?

I think that means Red Rick believes any bonus seconds gained by Pogacar in the first week will be totally moot & redundant when Vingegaard drops a watts bombs in the mountains & gains huge time on Pog (that's how I interpret it anyway).

But he does have a point about Alaphilippe (& others like him), i.e. if last year's TdF is anything to go by, the Tour will be a plaything for a few super riders whilst everyone else eats km's for nothing.

Vingegaard, Pogacar, Van Aert, Van der Poel, Jakobsen & Philipsen will win stages. Multiple stages for some of them. It doesn't leave much else other than crumbs for anyone not at their level.

 

[Red Rick]

I think that means Red Rick believes any bonus seconds gained by Pogacar in the first week will be totally moot & redundant when Vingegaard drops a watts bombs in the mountains & gains huge time on Pog (that's how I interpret it anyway).

But he does have a point about Alaphilippe (& others like him), i.e. if last year's TdF is anything to go by, the Tour will be a plaything for a few super riders whilst everyone else eats km's for nothing.

Vingegaard, Pogacar, Van Aert, Van der Poel, Jakobsen & Philipsen will win stages. Multiple stages for some of them. It doesn't leave much else other than crumbs for anyone not at their level.

It's not about Pogacar vs Vingegaard, it's about these uphill sprint bonus seconds that were around in Paris Nice that were simply over the top and change the character of the race too much. Whether I think Vingegaard will drop Pog is irrelevant.

As for Alaphilippe, he has a tendency to attack all over the place in Tour de France breakaways, often being very erratic and making a lot of attacks that go absolutely nowhere. Like attacking the breakaway on the Ventoux stage in '21 and finishing 12 minutes down in the end.