After a decade in Belgium, Julian Alaphilippe starts the 2025 season “super motivated” with his new Swiss team Tudor which is also counting a lot on him to grow and “to pass a milestone”.
At 32, the former double world champion (2020, 2021) believes that it was “the right time for this big change” after ten years at Soudal Quick-Step where his adventure ended this winter with a touch of bitterness because of his complicated relations with the boss Patrick Lefevere, against a backdrop of declining results.
He has found refuge for the next three seasons in a young, long-toothed team, led by former Swiss champion Fabian Cancellara, who, since its creation in April 2022, has been moving up the ranks four by four.
“I liked the project from the first discussions we had with Ricardo (Scheidecker, sports director), “Raphi” (Raphael Meyer, general manager) and Fabian (Cancellara). I immediately attached to the idea of being part of this young team but with a lot of character and ambition,” explained the Frenchman on Tuesday from Moraira, in the south-east of Spain, where his team is on internship.
“It’s a challenge for me too, it was my instinct that decided, I’m very happy with my decision. They know where they want to go, that really motivated me”he insisted.
Dependent on invitations
Ending the 2024 season ranked 22nd in the world in terms of UCI points, the Swiss team, backed by the luxury watchmaker, may have great ambitions, but it is still sailing in the second division (the World Tour is reserved for the top 18 teams) , which forces him to wait for invitations from the organizers to participate in the biggest races like the Tour de France.
Julian Alaphilippe before the start of the Tour of Flanders on March 31, 2024 in Oudenaarde. At 32, the French rider says he is “super motivated” within his new Swiss team, Tudor. “I immediately liked the idea of being part of this young team but with a lot of character and ambition,” he confided / LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ / BELGA/AFP/Archives
A new reality for Alaphilippe who, as a result, did not really know on Tuesday what his program would be beyond his start at the Figueira Champions Classic in Portugal on February 16 followed by the Tour of the Algarve and then Paris- Nice in March, for which Tudor was invited by ASO.
Its bosses are hoping that the arrival of one of the favorites of the French public, as well as that of the Swiss Marc Hirschi, very visible at the end of last season, will convince the organizers to welcome them.
“With new riders like Marc, Loulou (Alaphilippe), or even Marco Haller and Larry Warbasse, we hope to take a step forward,” said Cancellara. We need their experience in the biggest races, otherwise we will just be passengers. But we still depend on invitations. »
” Optimistic “ for the Tour de France
“Not knowing our schedule requires a huge effort from everyone on the team. We are going to apply for all the great classics and the Tour de France but after that it no longer depends on us”recalled general manager Raphael Meyer.
Matteo Trentin on September 1, 2024 during the 5th stage of the Renewi Tour, organized in Belgium and the Netherlands. The Italian veteran, who joined the Tudor team a year ago, is delighted with the arrival of Julian Alaphilippe. “That a champion of his class comes to us shows the ambition that there is here,” he said / DAVID PINTENS / BELGA/AFP/Archives
“I’m always optimistic, it’s a dream to go to the Tour, it’s in our heads of course but it’s still far away”assured Alaphilippe who especially hopes “find your best possible level” in 2025, on the momentum of a season already better than the two previous ones.
For Italian veteran Matteo Trentin, who arrived at Tudor a year ago from Tadej Pogacar’s Team UAE, it’s certain: Alaphilippe, whom he knew at Quick-Step, “will leave his mark this season”. “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”he assures AFP.
“Julian is really a big blow for the team,” adds the Italian. That a champion of his class comes to us shows the ambition there is here. They really respect what they say and what they want to do. The team has grown so much in just two years and is already well respected in the peloton. I’m sure Julian will thrive there. »
