During the media launch of his new Tudor Cycling Pro team, Julian Alaphilippe appeared, true to himself, relaxed and smiling during a press conference entirely in English. Full of ambitions, the double world champion still does not know if he will be able to run the biggest races in 2025, starting with the Tour de France.
The Tudor Pro Cycling team, which will only compete in its third season in 2025, still operates in the second division of cycling (22nd in the UCI ranking), and as such it must count on invitations from the organizers to hope to compete in the biggest races after applying. We already know that she was invited to Paris-Nice in March, but will still have to wait to find out if she will be able to compete in the great classics, Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, etc. .. as well as on the Grand Tours.
This doesn't worry Julian Alaphilippe any more, who will make his racing debut in his new jersey on February 16 during the Figueiras Champions Classic in Portugal. “It was a good time in my career for a big change,” explained the Auvergnat. “When I was contacted, I really appreciated the speech, the philosophy of the team, the very strong identity, the beautiful structure, the fact of knowing what they want. There is really a lot of motivation even if we can't really plan precisely on the calendar.”
Cancellara sets Tudor Pro Cycling goals
In 2025, the Swiss team, owned by former rider Fabian Cancellara, recruited eight new riders including Alaphilippe and the Swiss Marc Hirschi. “It’s a nice mix to go even higher,” explains Fabian Cancellara. “We were a very small structure of young people, the top step is runners with great experience, with Marc, and 'Loulou'.”
And Cancellara clarified: “We want to finish in the two best Pro Team teams to move up to the World Tour and plan our calendar better than today. We are going to compete in Paris Nice in March but for the rest, it's quite vague “.
Arnaud Souque, in Teulada (Spain)
