Teams & Riders Julian Alaphilippe Discussion Thread

[Blanco]

He reminds me of Bettini a lot...

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

He reminds me of Bettini a lot...

Yes. I was thinking about that this week too. He's really brutally explosive also on shallower inclines, not the kind of rouleur that Gilbert or GvA are, and not the high mountain climber that Valverde is. But man he's jumpy as hell. Podiums in LBL and MSR is given to few.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Gilbert and GVA have become much better rouleurs rouleurs later on in their careers tho, Gilbert was almost guaranteed a gap on a similar climb back in 09-11, but he couldn't pull a Flanders at that point. Remeber Tour of Flanders in 2011? Kinda similar to Alaphilippe in Bergen. And GvA has certainly also become a much bigger diesel/rouleur now, in top shape he has the biggest motor in hard endurance races in the world. I would take him 10/10 against Sagan in a sprint in in Flanders if they didnt crash.

 

[classicomano]

He will be the new King of Huy. Valverde's reign ends in 2018.

 

[franic]

Re:

He reminds me of Bettini a lot...

Bettini was much faster IMHO. He has beaten top sprinter (e.g. Zabel). The issue is that Bettini was probably also a better climber (Lombardia 2006).

 

[Durden93]

Re: Re:

He reminds me of Bettini a lot...

Bettini was much faster IMHO. He has beaten top sprinter (e.g. Zabel). The issue is that Bettini was probably also a better climber (Lombardia 2006).

While I agree with you, we must wait to see what Alaphilippe becomes. Bettini won his first monument at 26. Julian is 25 and has podiumed monuments on three occasions. Give it time.

 

[Blanco]

Re:

He will be the new King of Huy. Valverde's reign ends in 2018.

We'll see. If Valverde hits his usual form, which is a big question, it will be very hard to beat him. Anyway, Alaphilippe must strike earlier, maybe right after that s-curve. If he waits last 200m, he'll lose.

 

[Pippo_San]

Big fan of him. Love his descending skills as well as his attacking style. He's so jumpy and punchy, a very entertaining rider.
He's definitely got some Classics waiting for him: the best young engines in the peloton are probably his, Kwiatkowski's and Moscon's.
Maybe Gaviria's, if just a bit overrated.
Sagan is of course from another world.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Gilbert and GVA have become much better rouleurs rouleurs later on in their careers tho, Gilbert was almost guaranteed a gap on a similar climb back in 09-11, but he couldn't pull a Flanders at that point. Remeber Tour of Flanders in 2011? Kinda similar to Alaphilippe in Bergen. And GvA has certainly also become a much bigger diesel/rouleur now, in top shape he has the biggest motor in hard endurance races in the world. I would take him 10/10 against Sagan in a sprint in in Flanders if they didnt crash.

The Belgians definitely have become better engines. However they've never shown the kind of climbing that Alaphilippe has.

 

[Nirvana]

Re: Re:

He reminds me of Bettini a lot...

Bettini was much faster IMHO. He has beaten top sprinter (e.g. Zabel). The issue is that Bettini was probably also a better climber (Lombardia 2006).

Bettini changed his focused skills during the years, when he was young was a good climber and made a top 10 in the Giro but then he thought that he couldn't win a GT and decided to put some kilos and try the classics so he wasn't able anymore to follow climbers in the mountains. In later years changed again focusing more in sprinting and started to contest also flat stages sprint in the Giro winning also two points jersey.

 

[Akuryo]

Re: Re:

He reminds me of Bettini a lot...

Bettini was much faster IMHO. He has beaten top sprinter (e.g. Zabel). The issue is that Bettini was probably also a better climber (Lombardia 2006).

Bettini changed his focused skills during the years, when he was young was a good climber and made a top 10 in the Giro but then he thought that he couldn't win a GT and decided to put some kilos and try the classics so he wasn't able anymore to follow climbers in the mountains. In later years changed again focusing more in sprinting and started to contest also flat stages sprint in the Giro winning also two points jersey.

In other words: Bettini is a legend, simple as that. And to be even compared to such an amzing rider is a feat in itself.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

He reminds me of Bettini a lot...

Bettini was much faster IMHO. He has beaten top sprinter (e.g. Zabel). The issue is that Bettini was probably also a better climber (Lombardia 2006).

Bettini changed his focused skills during the years, when he was young was a good climber and made a top 10 in the Giro but then he thought that he couldn't win a GT and decided to put some kilos and try the classics so he wasn't able anymore to follow climbers in the mountains. In later years changed again focusing more in sprinting and started to contest also flat stages sprint in the Giro winning also two points jersey.

In other words: Bettini is a legend, simple as that. And to be even compared to such an amzing rider is a feat in itself.

Particularly so when we are talking about a rider with five professional wins, the biggest of which is a Vuelta stage.

 

[can3478]

Re:

So much for the "wheelsucker" Alaphilippe. So many people were critical of him during the Vuelta, but here he put in the strongest and most decisive attack all race. Hate that term being thrown around loosely. Reserve it for a rider like Leipheimer...

I assume the wheel sucking accusation came from Alaphilippe stage 8 win at the Vuelta. On that climb, Alaphilippe was sitting on Majka wheel more often than vice versa. However, I think Alaphilippe was just riding smart. He didn’t have to lead Majka up the mountain, he only needs to stay with him until the finish line and sprint for the win. Besides, there is no benefit of wheelsucking as you climb Xorret de Cati.
From CyclingTips’ article – https://cyclingtips.com/2017/10/much-benefit-really-get-drafting/
...
the faster you ride, the greater the drag you’ll experience. When you ride uphill, your speed drops and so does the wind resistance you face. Meanwhile, the impact of gravity is what you’ll spend the bulk of your energy overcoming, not wind resistance.
Indeed, as Matt Williams, an aerodynamics specialist at McLaren Applied Technologies, told Cyclist, up to 80% of a rider’s energy might be used to fight gravity on a 6% climb, compared to roughly 10% to fight wind resistance. Compare that with the 80% wind resistance contributes to the total resistive force acting against a rider on a flat road at 30km/h.
Because wind resistance isn’t as much of a factor uphill as it is on flat roads, drafting provides less of a benefit
...

By the way, Xorret de Cati was 5km with average gradient of 9%.


According PCS, Alaphilippe will be riding Milano-Torino, he and Gilbert will be riding Il Lombardia in support of Dan Martin. So finally Martin, Gilbert and Alaphilippe are riding together, too bad it’s not at Ardennes Classics. A win at Il Lombardia is going to be difficult for QS as Dan is not at his best form, JMHO.

 

[can3478]

Re: Re:

He reminds me of Bettini a lot...

Bettini was much faster IMHO. He has beaten top sprinter (e.g. Zabel). The issue is that Bettini was probably also a better climber (Lombardia 2006).

Bettini changed his focused skills during the years, when he was young was a good climber and made a top 10 in the Giro but then he thought that he couldn't win a GT and decided to put some kilos and try the classics so he wasn't able anymore to follow climbers in the mountains. In later years changed again focusing more in sprinting and started to contest also flat stages sprint in the Giro winning also two points jersey.

In other words: Bettini is a legend, simple as that. And to be even compared to such an amzing rider is a feat in itself.

Particularly so when we are talking about a rider with five professional wins, the biggest of which is a Vuelta stage.

How about 2016 AMGEN Tour of California? After taking the queen stage, he rode well at ITT stage to hold off Rohan Denis for the overall GC win.

For me, winning a 1 week stage race (weak field) is better than a stage win at GT.

 

[hazaran]

Great attack today but somebody should have told him it isn't the final climb yet..

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Re: Re:

Podiums in LBL and MSR is given to few.

Well, it's not like it's that rare. Gilbert, Kwiaktkowski, Gerrans and Nibali also have it.

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

Podiums in LBL and MSR is given to few.

Well, it's not like it's that rare. Gilbert, Kwiaktkowski, Gerrans and Nibali also have it.

Wins are given to few, and my God in what company is Simon Gerrans - Van Looy, Merckx, De Vlaeminck, Kelly and Bettini! :surprised:

 

[Leinster]

Re: Re:

Podiums in LBL and MSR is given to few.

Well, it's not like it's that rare. Gilbert, Kwiaktkowski, Gerrans and Nibali also have it.

Wins are given to few, and my God in what company is Simon Gerrans - Van Looy, Merckx, De Vlaeminck, Kelly and Bettini! :surprised:

Matthews is just a little bit away; 4th in Liege, 3rd in MSR. If the race goes the right way, light sprinters can contest LBL, and quick climbers can contest MSR.

 

[manolo57]

Re: Re:

Podiums in LBL and MSR is given to few.

Well, it's not like it's that rare. Gilbert, Kwiaktkowski, Gerrans and Nibali also have it.

But Julian podiumed both at only 24.

 

[Akuryo]

Third monument podium now. Just a little bit is missing, but he is the future of those kind of classics for sure!

 

[Netserk]

He'd be favourite with the 'old' Como finish, I think.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Podiuming MSR, LBL and Lombardia at 25.

Chapeau Julian.

 

[Breh]

He's no big fan of Moscon or powermeters it seems.

Chapeau!

 

[yaco]

Can only get get better - Missed over 3mths with a knee injury and in previous seasons battled glandular fever - Give him a clear year and he can do damage.

 

[roundabout]

Re:

He'd be favourite with the 'old' Como finish, I think.

And probably the old Bergamo finish as well.