Julian Alaphilippe is back and in great shape for the end of the 2024 season. The French puncher from Soudal-Quick Step, who will join the Swiss team Tudor next season, has just taken third place in the Tour de Montréal on Sunday, behind Tadej Pogacar and Pello Bilbao. Confident, the double world champion is now awaiting his selection for the world championships in Zurich, with Thomas Voeckler due to announce his team tomorrow for this race. But Alaphilippe knows that he will have a lot to do against Tadej Pogacar, the true king of the 2024 season and who has won the Giro, the Tour de France and many other races this year. Now focused on his goal of becoming world champion, the Slovenian will give his all to go and pocket the rainbow jersey. And a former French champion spoke about Alaphilippe, showing himself happy with his return to form but not believing in a title in Zurich because of Pogacar.
Bernard Hinault does not believe in Alaphilippe
This former champion is Bernard Hinault. The five-time winner of the Tour de France and world champion in 1980 spoke to Cycling Actu and talked about Alaphilippe’s return to form.Julian makes me very happy. He is back at the highest level, and he deserves it. He is someone who works hard, and he is rewarded for it. He does not have the physical means of Pogacar, but when he has the opportunity, he does not ask himself questions and he goes for it.” confided Hinault, who then qualified his remarks by speaking about the world championships.
A subject on which Hinault does not believe in Alaphilippe given that Pogacar is much too strong in his eyes. He believes that the Slovenian will have no trouble getting the rainbow jersey.The course being difficult, he will be able to express himself and he will not have too much difficulty in becoming world champion. Afterwards, there is still competition, we must not forget that. He will have very good riders facing him and he risks, in addition, having the sign on his back, which means that everyone will run on him“, confided the five-time winner of the Tour, confident for “Pogi” before this race in Zurich on September 29. But there is no doubt that internally, Hinault must hope for a sensational move from Alaphilippe, ready to give his all to go for a third title in his career.
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To summarize
Julian Alaphilippe is back and in great shape at the end of the 2024 season. The French puncher from Soudal-Quick Step, who will join the Swiss team Tudor next season, has just taken third place in the Tour de Montréal on Sunday, behind Tadej Pogacar and Pello Bilbao.
