Ct is a new departure that the world of cycling will scrutinize with great curiosity and that its many fans are impatiently awaiting. At 32 years old, Julian Alaphilippe will start his twelfth professional season in 2025 in new black-leaning colors, those of the Swiss team Tudor. The Frenchman had until now only worn the jersey of the Belgian team Quick-Step (under different names), even as a hopeful. But the idyll ended after two last disappointing years from a sporting point of view and eventful with his boss, Patrick Lefévère, who did not spare him in the media.
Currently in preparation training in Moraira, in the south of Spain, the former double world champion (2020 and 2021) obviously said he was “super motivated”, during the presentation of the squad this Tuesday, convinced that it was “the right time for this great change”.
While Jean-René Bernaudeau, the manager of the TotalEnergies team, long tried to seduce him, Alaphilippe finally chose another team in the world's second division for this possible end-of-career rebound via a three-year contract. At the head of Tudor, the Frenchman will find Fabian Cancellara, the former specialist in paved classics, who is leading a project with significant resources.
Living with Hirschi
“I liked the project from the first discussions we had with Ricardo (Scheidecker, sporting director), Raphi (Raphael Meyer, general director) and Fabian (Cancellara). I immediately liked the idea of being part of this young team but with a lot of character and ambition,” explained the Frenchman. It is true that Tudor, simply created in 2022, seems designed to rise among the best quite quickly. Because in addition to Alaphilippe, it has offered itself another world-class puncher, the Swiss Marc Hirschi, defector from UAE, or the powerful Austrian road-sprinter Marco Haller, who will support the sprinter Arvin de Kleijn, notably winner of a stage on Paris-Nice in 2024.
Don't Alaphilippe and Hirschi risk stepping on each other's toes, they who have the same characteristics? The Frenchman thinks not: “This cohabitation is a problem of the rich. There will be no rivalry between us. Deep down, I have the character of a leader, of an attacker and that will never change. But I have always been happy to help my teammates and I would be happy to see Marc achieve his goals,” he assured.
Seduce the organizers
Either way, Tudor will need everyone to seduce the organizers. Because by finishing the 2024 season ranked 22nd in the world in terms of UCI points, the Swiss team, backed by the luxury watchmaker, remained in the second division and dependent on invitations to access the biggest races. While waiting to know his full program, the Frenchman will begin his season during the Figueira Classic in Portugal on February 16 followed by the Tour of the Algarve. But with such recruitment, the other doors should open quickly… For the moment, the Tour organizers (ASO) have not yet delivered their keys, but they have invited Tudor (and therefore Alaphilippe) to the next Paris -Nice, while waiting to decide between Tudor, TotalEnergies and Uno-X for the two remaining tickets.
“I hope we can compete in all the races we dream of running. 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…” With two world champion titles, a label as darling of the French public and a past glorious in the event (5th in 2019, 6 stages won, super-combative in 2019 and best climber in 2018), Alaphilippe should weigh in with all his weight. His bosses were not mistaken in going to look for him…
