Teams & Riders Julian Alaphilippe Discussion Thread

[Valv.Piti]

Yeah, lets pump the breaks with the Valverde-comparisons a bit....

 

[Asero831]

i think he can handle 10km climb.
Not sure if he can be good in multi mountain stage.

 

[Netserk]

I hope he is up for some fun tomorrow and tries to win the stage, but I think he is completely blown, and will not be able to do much.

So close, yet so far away. Better luck next year, Ala!

 

[can3478]

I come to post a photo of the agony of defeat but Alexandre B. beat me to it.

Tomorrow, Alaphilippe has a chance to win the green jersey if he's up to it.

 

[HelloDolly]

Love Allaphillipe...like hsi attacking style and the way he goes for it...But no matter how many times Kirby and others say ...he is not a GT winner as he is not a climber (an he is not an asthma sufferer )

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

I hope he is up for some fun tomorrow and tries to win the stage, but I think he is completely blown, and will not be able to do much.

So close, yet so far away. Better luck next year, Ala!

He did the same thing last year and was up there in the last stage. Dan Martin got wrecked a lot harder on the Cote de Peille last year.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Yeah, lets pump the breaks with the Valverde-comparisons a bit....

I don't think anyone is hyping Alaphilippe for GTs or anything. As for the hilly classics the potential is there without any doubt.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Yeah, lets pump the breaks with the Valverde-comparisons a bit....

I think the comparisons are because he's a puncheur with a nice sprint. He does still remind me a bit of a young Valverde. However he's not close to the climber than Valverde is and of course there is no comparison at all with the consistency. I doubt we'll ever see another rider with the kind of consistency that Valverde has.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

How many times will this have to happen before people stop rating him as a contender for races with GC relevant mountains in them?

 

[Blanco]

Re:

How many times will this have to happen before people stop rating him as a contender for races with GC relevant mountains in them?

Well he did more than good in Abu Dhabi this year, and climbers competition there was maybe stronger than this. But then again, Paris-Nice is much, much harder race overall...

 

[Asero831]

Not sure if he will be fully recovered for MSR.
He looked sick on the efforts he put up in the last two days

 

[portugal11]

Re:

Not sure if he will be fully recovered for MSR.
He looked sick on the efforts he put up in the last two days

sick? he just doesn't have it on mountain stages

 

[yaco]

Alaphalippe rides in a buccaneering fashion which suits the ethos of Etix. Doubt another team would allow him to so often ride in this manner.

 

[Oliver]

I had expected a little bit more but at the moment I think it's better to focus on 1-day races. Looking forward to see him @ the Ardennes and I hope he wins one.

 

[Alexandre B.]

They're aging fast these days.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

I had expected a little bit more but at the moment I think it's better to focus on 1-day races. Looking forward to see him @ the Ardennes and I hope he wins one.

They Ardennes should be fun with a healthy Alaphilippe and a healthy Valverde. I guess we'll see if Alaphilippe can get closer to Valverde this year at either Fleche Wallone or Liege. He's one of the few riders who doesn't start the race already conceding the win the Valverde.

 

[El Pistolero]

It doesn't seem like he'll be able to compete in the Ardennes classics. He comes across as a nearly man to me... He'll need to improve if he ever wants to win a big race. Valverde's competition in the Ardennes remains pathetically weak.

The Ronde Van Vlaanderen has a much better field with many cyclists that can potentially win... Gilbert, Van Avermaet, Kwiatkowski, Sagan, Naesen, Terpstra, Van Marcke, Kristoff, etc.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

It doesn't seem like he'll be able to compete in the Ardennes classics. He comes across as a nearly man to me... He'll need to improve if he ever wants to win a big race. Valverde's competition in the Ardennes remains pathetically weak.

I'm pretty sure this is why he said during the off season that he really hoped Valverde would be fully recovered from his injuries before the Ardennes. He wants to race against Valverde and measure himself to Valverde.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

It doesn't seem like he'll be able to compete in the Ardennes classics. He comes across as a nearly man to me... He'll need to improve if he ever wants to win a big race. Valverde's competition in the Ardennes remains pathetically weak.

The Ronde Van Vlaanderen has a much better field with many cyclists that can potentially win... Gilbert, Van Avermaet, Kwiatkowski, Sagan, Naesen, Terpstra, Van Marcke, Kristoff, etc.

For FW you're right, there isn't as much competition, but Liege is harder to control and so much more open. There's a handful who can definitely win it and more who could possibly win it.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

It doesn't seem like he'll be able to compete in the Ardennes classics. He comes across as a nearly man to me... He'll need to improve if he ever wants to win a big race. Valverde's competition in the Ardennes remains pathetically weak.

The Ronde Van Vlaanderen has a much better field with many cyclists that can potentially win... Gilbert, Van Avermaet, Kwiatkowski, Sagan, Naesen, Terpstra, Van Marcke, Kristoff, etc.

For FW you're right, there isn't as much competition, but Liege is harder to control and so much more open. There's a handful who can definitely win it and more who could possibly win it.

Agree about FW, heck most of the peloton will agree as well as either last year or the year before a bunch were asking can we just hand Valverde the winners trophy can go on. Last year even Dan Martin made the comment he can't beat Valverde and won't win these races as long as Valverde is racing. The only person who seems to think he has a shot is Alaphilippe.
Now Liege a lot of peloton also believes the same thing, just give Valverde the trophy and go on, however it's a bit more complicated race in which a few more riders do have a shot at it. Also for NEXT year Liege is changing where the finish is which should make it a bit more open.

 

[can3478]

Looking at the photos posted on the previous page, one can see the effort Alaphilippe put into the race and how disappointed he’s at himself. He said in an interview, “I knew it was going to be a difficult stage, by the profile, but especially be the weather. The cold is really not my thing.”

His last 2 wins; both were on really hot day. He came 2nd at Il Lombardia, another beautiful day.

If cold is not his thing, he should ride Strade Bianche. He came 2nd at world junior cyclocross championship, so he definitely can handle dirt roads, and the uphill climb at the end of the race would suit him nicely. Then do Tirreno-Adriatico, where it definitely warmer than Paris-Nice. Knowing Alaphilippe, he won’t give up racing in France.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Looking at the photos posted on the previous page, one can see the effort Alaphilippe put into the race and how disappointed he’s at himself. He said in an interview, “I knew it was going to be a difficult stage, by the profile, but especially be the weather. The cold is really not my thing.”

His last 2 wins; both were on really hot day. He came 2nd at Il Lombardia, another beautiful day.

If cold is not his thing, he should ride Strade Bianche. He came 2nd at world junior cyclocross championship, so he definitely can handle dirt roads, and the uphill climb at the end of the race would suit him nicely. Then do Tirreno-Adriatico, where it definitely warmer than Paris-Nice. Knowing Alaphilippe, he won’t give up racing in France.

Except this year.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Looking at the photos posted on the previous page, one can see the effort Alaphilippe put into the race and how disappointed he’s at himself. He said in an interview, “I knew it was going to be a difficult stage, by the profile, but especially be the weather. The cold is really not my thing.”

His last 2 wins; both were on really hot day. He came 2nd at Il Lombardia, another beautiful day.

If cold is not his thing, he should ride Strade Bianche. He came 2nd at world junior cyclocross championship, so he definitely can handle dirt roads, and the uphill climb at the end of the race would suit him nicely. Then do Tirreno-Adriatico, where it definitely warmer than Paris-Nice. Knowing Alaphilippe, he won’t give up racing in France.

This year it was cold, rainly and miserable. Having said that, Valverde has a similar view of cold weather. He hates cold weather and has no problem complaining about it any time it's snowing during a race or any time the weather drops below 20 C during the Tour. Difference is there are times he's had horrible races in the cold (Liege 2016) and other times he's done pretty well (Strade Bianche this year with a 4th). Granted Alaphilippe's 2nd places at both Fleche Wallone and Liege have been on nice sunny days.

 

[The Barb]

Re: Julian Alaphilippe

He can definitely win (and perhaps in a year or two dominate) in the Ardennes, although with his descending skills I think ultimately Lombardia will be his best Classic.

I'm still smarting from 2015 Liege Bastogne Liege when I placed, about two weeks from the race, $40 on him at 125-1 (finished second to Valverde).

He's still only 25yo, which is the same age as Valverde when he won his first Ardennes race in 2005, and I think I'm right in saying only Andy Schleck has won Liege younger since. His time will come.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

It doesn't seem like he'll be able to compete in the Ardennes classics. He comes across as a nearly man to me... He'll need to improve if he ever wants to win a big race. Valverde's competition in the Ardennes remains pathetically weak.

The Ronde Van Vlaanderen has a much better field with many cyclists that can potentially win... Gilbert, Van Avermaet, Kwiatkowski, Sagan, Naesen, Terpstra, Van Marcke, Kristoff, etc.

Liège is a more open race than Flanders.

If we take a look at the last three years, Flanders has had 3 different winners, Liège has had 2. Flanders has had 7 different riders in top 3, Liège has had 8. Flanders has had 22 different riders in top 10, Liège has had 24.

Looking at the last 10 years, Flanders has had 7 different winners, Liège has had 8. Flanders has had 16 different riders in top 3, Liège has had 18. Flanders has had 49 different riders in top 10, Liège has had 55.