Teams & Riders Julian Alaphilippe Discussion Thread

[Laplaz]

Re:

That's one major favorite less.

Valverde will probably be unbeatable now

It's still Valverde vs. Kwiat vs. Gilbert.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re:

That's one major favorite less.

Valverde will probably be unbeatable now

Valverde and Gilbert will probably mark each other, allowing someone to escape.

What a bummer for Alaf, though.

 

[therhodeo]

Opportunity time for Vakoc?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

Opportunity time for Vakoc?

QuickStep still have Gilbert and Martin.

 

[yaco]

Alaphalippe was my favorite for Fleche Wallone - Have to reassess my options.

 

[therhodeo]

Re: Re:

Opportunity time for Vakoc?

QuickStep still have Gilbert and Martin.

Forgot about Martin. Sad for QS that they'll have to go to their fall back plan of 2 guys who have only won 6 monuments between them.

 

[Breh]

SO sad

 

[Arredondo]

Is it already possible to hand La Fleche Wallone over to Bala?

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Is it already possible to hand La Fleche Wallone over to Bala?

If Henao can replicate his performance of the final climb of stage 6 in Paris-Nice (where he obliterated Alaphilippe), then he might stand a chance. Otherwise, yes.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Is it already possible to hand La Fleche Wallone over to Bala?

Pretty much, Henao seems off shape after his brilliant Paris-Nice (he will probably top-5 anyways).

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

That's one major favorite less.

Valverde will probably be unbeatable now

It's still Valverde vs. Kwiat vs. Gilbert.

Don't think Gilbert can win FW and Liege anymore. In Amstel, sure.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

Is it already possible to hand La Fleche Wallone over to Bala?

Depends on Henao is saving something for the Mur. He is the only one who can get away from Valverde in the current peloton.

 

[Tonton]

Re: Julian Alaphilippe

It's a shame. Mono last year, injury now, before you know you're 30, a ton of talent and nothing to show for...

I hope that Julian gets well very soon, ends the season on a couple of good notes. He can do it. Vuelta? I don't know. GDL? Maybe. Something.

Get well Champ!

 

[can3478]

It must be frustrating for Julian not able to race the Ardennes Classics due to knee injury, the most important races for him. With the addition of Gilbert, the team is even better than last year.

Looking back at the fall on stage 3 of the Tour of Basque country.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRkNy20mD24
At 50.6km(36:30), notice that Julian hand is on the right knee. Thanks to the quick thinking of an Astana staff to stand on the road so that passing cars won’t hit him.

Forward to stage 4,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TosIJh-E58k
At 22.8km(10:11), Julian is not well. The camera returns 2 minutes later, Kirby commented that Julian and the DS are discussing withdrawal. He went on to complete the stage.

It’s obvious that his knee is bothering him; why not get off the bike immediately, save the knee for the Ardennes classics where Julian is the main protagonist for Quick Step in the last 2 years.

I hope Julian is going to win FW and LBL one day and he’s going to win it in Quick-Step team kit. Patrick Lefevere is still looking for team sponsors, the future is uncertain.

 

[Oliver]

How is he? Any news about him? Does he ride Californië?

 

[yaco]

He is the rider who can beat Valverde at Fleche Wallone.

 

[tobydawq]

No.

 

[Red Rick]

More like LBL. Etixx would've been truly freaking scary at LBL with Gilbert, Alaphilippe and Dan Martin

 

[Mr.White]

Yeah, more likely at Liege. He should be right on Valverde's wheel before that jump he made to catch Martin, and he would need to hold that wheel and try to overtake him in the sprint. Classic 1-2. Although with Valverde's current form, much easier to say then to done that. They tried that tactics at Fleche last year, but it didn't worked.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Yeah, more likely at Liege. He should be right on Valverde's wheel before that jump he made to catch Martin, and he would need to hold that wheel and try to overtake him in the sprint. Classic 1-2. Although with Valverde's current form, much easier to say then to done that. They tried that tactics at Fleche last year, but it didn't worked.

Yeah not a great tactic for Fleche. Though Liege is horrible for riding against one rider, as everyone's always sacrificing their diesels at the end, and solo attacks over the SN never last and small groups are always containing Valverde anyway. THough with bringing Gilbert along to the race you have so many options and can be on the offensive from la Redoute and never have to do a bit of chasing. They ruined that bit when they had to chase the breakaway down at the end.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

Yeah, more likely at Liege. He should be right on Valverde's wheel before that jump he made to catch Martin, and he would need to hold that wheel and try to overtake him in the sprint. Classic 1-2. Although with Valverde's current form, much easier to say then to done that. They tried that tactics at Fleche last year, but it didn't worked.

Yeah not a great tactic for Fleche. Though Liege is horrible for riding against one rider, as everyone's always sacrificing their diesels at the end, and solo attacks over the SN never last and small groups are always containing Valverde anyway. THough with bringing Gilbert along to the race you have so many options and can be on the offensive from la Redoute and never have to do a bit of chasing. They ruined that bit when they had to chase the breakaway down at the end.

With Gilbert it's a perfect situation for QS. They may go from a far, maybe even from Redoute. The key is, as I said before, to isolate Valverde, to make him use his team much earlier then planned. If he's alone on top of Roche, he can't control everything, strong group might sneak away and one of 3 strongest Steppers should be in that move.

 

[Vroome.exe]

Julian will miss Tour de France after knee surgery.

God, he's one of the most talented riders I've ever seen, but he's so unlucky with his injuries and health problems.

 

[yaco]

Ah - It's been a disastrous season for Alaphalippe - Fleche Wallone is waiting in 2018.

 

[Flamin]

Re:

Julian will miss Tour de France after knee surgery.

God, he's one of the most talented riders I've ever seen, but he's so unlucky with his injuries and health problems.

You got to be kidding me

 

[manolo57]

Anyway, Julian will win 3 or 4 stages at the Vuelta, then the Worlds and finally il Lombardia. Better than a Tour with not many stages that suits him