This time, Julian Alaphilippe silenced the critics. Second on Wednesday in the team time trial and still 4th on Thursday during a hill finish, the former double world champion won solo this Friday on the 3rd stage of the Tour of Slovakia.
Beaten the day before by riders unknown to the general public in a hill finish, Julian Alaphilippe had his revenge this Friday in Dubnica, in a winding finale, on the 68th Tour of Slovakia.
The former double road world champion made the difference by attacking in the last kilometer and won alone, two seconds ahead of his young compatriot and teammate at the Soudal Quick-Step, Paul Magnier (20 years).
Julian Alaphilippe moves up to 2nd place overall
In the general classification, Julian Alaphilippe made a leap forward, moving from 5th place to the position of runner-up to the leader, Anders Foldager.
On this 3rd stage, the Bourbonnais took back a total of 26 seconds from the young Dane from Team Jayco (22 years old), distanced in the final (28th at 16 seconds).
Julian Alaphilippe plays placed in the sprint on the second stage of the Tour of Slovakia (video)
Alaf’ notably recovered ten seconds of bonuses by winning and is now only 10 seconds behind the man who took the leader’s jersey on Thursday, after his sprint victory in the 2nd stage, the first of his career among the pros.
A second victory this season, after that of the Giro
This success in the Slovak event is the second won in 2024 by the 32-year-old puncher who grew up near Montluçon (Allier).
The native of Saint-Amand-Montrond (Cher) won for the first time this year on the roads of the Giro d’Italia, during the 12th stage, on May 16.
This Saturday, a change of scenery for the riders of this 68th Tour of Slovakia. The event will gain height on medium mountain roads.
The 4th stage between Partizanske and Ruzomberok (184 km) promises to be the most difficult of the week, with an elevation gain of slightly more than 3,000 m.
A terrain for climbers but which could also suit an Alaphilippe in form as seems to be the case at the moment. Let’s not forget that he won the mountain classification a few years ago on the Tour de France.
Tour of Slovakia: Julian Alaphilippe and Soudal Quick-Step narrowly ahead of the team time trial
This Saturday, the queen stage of this 68th Tour of Slovakia
If he passes the two first category climbs of the course with the best, the leader of Soudal could shine again in the final since a climb as he likes them, both steep (10% average) and short ( 1,000 m), will be placed a few miles from the finish. Truly tailor-made for its punching qualities, which still allow it to make a difference on steep slopes.
In any case, a life-size test which will tell us more about the current physical condition of the former world champion, who declined participation in the Tour de France to better concentrate on his Olympic objective.
Back on the Tour of Slovakia, which he had not competed in since his overall victory in 2018, Alaphilippe remains more than ever in the race to secure a double, six years later.
The top 15 of the stage
Raphael Rochette
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