10/08/2024

"I don't regret anything" - Julian Alaphilippe puts on terrific ride in San Sebastian but comes up short of victory

Julian Alaphilippe has had very difficult years in his career recently but over the past few months he seems to have found the form he had in the early 2020's. The Soudal - Quick-Step showed his best level this afternoon at the Clásica San Sebastián and came very close to victory after attacking twice on the final climb.

“I’m happy to be on the podium of a big race again. Of course I’m also a bit disappointed, because I was so close to winning. But yes, I think I rode a good race. I gave it my all. I’m happy with this second place," the Frenchman said in a post-race interview. After preparing for the Olympic Games, the veteran was able to make good use of his form to aim for the victory in the Basque Country. Home favourite and teammate Mikel Landa was surprisingly dropped in Erlaitz, where Alaphilippe was active and was then able to summit the climb in the chasing group to Pavel Sivakov.

Marc Hirschi wins Clasica San Sebastian over Julian Alaphilippe; Lennert van Eetvelt third in thrilling finale

The race was to be decided between the riders in this group. In his traditional style, Alaphilippe attacked in the first ramp of the final climb before slowing down and riding in the wheel until the final ramp that reached up to 27%. It was the best version of Alaphilippe who withstood the pace of Lennert van Eetvelt and then attacked in the final meters, followed by Marc Hirschi.

“It was really tough. I felt good, so I rode at my own pace. I prefer that to suffering from behind. I pretended the finish was at the top, but Marc Hirschi was very strong." He was then very twitchy in the final kilometers, several times looking behind, adjusting his shoes and even almost crashing after touching the Swiss rider. The gestures of a rider who is explosive and eager to reach the finish line.

But in the final sprint he wasn't the strongest out of the leading duo, and had to settle with runner-up in San Sebastian behind the UAE Team Emirates rider. "He did a good sprint after that, with a good sprint. He is also very explosive, so I don't regret anything."