Emmanuel LANGELLIER, Media365: published on Monday January 13, 2025 at 11:14 p.m.
After 10 years with Quick-Step, Julian Alaphilippe (32 years old) signed up for the Swiss team Tudor.
Julian Alaphilippe discovers a new world. One more, but a very different world after a decade in the Quick-Step team. It was starting to become very seriously complicated with Patrick Lefevere, the boss, and the time for a big change had come for Berrichon who opted for a bold choice. At 32, the Frenchman has signed up for 3 years with continental Swiss outfit Tudor, ranked 22nd at the end of the 2024 season in terms of UCI points. A young team with long teeth. The outline is clear and it pleases the double world champion (2020, 2021) who will receive a slightly lower salary than at Quick-Step, but will still receive 2 million euros per year (compared to 2.2 to 2 .3 M€ previously). “I immediately liked the idea of being part of this young team but with a lot of character and ambition,” said the French cyclist during his presentation last week.
Alaphilippe “will leave his mark this season”
In addition to Alaphilippe, the Swiss Marc Hirschi, brilliant at the end of last season, was recruited. “With new riders like Marc, Loulou (Alaphilippe), or even Marco Haller and Larry Warbasse, we hope to reach a milestone,” said Fabian Cancellara, the former rider who manages the Tudor team, which is quickly moving up the ranks since its creation in 2022. We need their experience in the biggest races, otherwise we will just be passengers. » According to Matteo Trentin, who arrived at Tudor a year ago and who knew Alaphilippe at Quick-Step, the Frenchman “will leave his mark this season”.
“Julian can be better than in 2021”
“Cycling has progressed so much that its level in 2021 is no longer sufficient to win a world championship, but I am certain that Julian can be better than in 2021,” believes the 35-year-old transalpine veteran. “Julian is a really big deal for the team. That a champion of his class comes to us shows the ambition there is here. The team has grown so much in just 2 years and is already well respected in the peloton. I'm sure Julian will thrive there. »
