"I was like a child arriving at the circus, eyes wide open ready to do battle" - Julian Alaphilippe recalls World Tour debut at the 2014 Tour Down Under

For the first time in ten years, Julian Alaphilippe has returned to the Tour Down Under in 2024. A decade ago, the Australian stage race marked a World Tour debut for the Frenchman, who has since become one of the biggest names in the peloton.

"I was like a child arriving at the circus, eyes wide open ready to do battle," the former two-time world champion recalls in conversation with Eurosport prior to the start of the 2024 edition of the race. “It was also a step into the unknown. It was my first World Tour race at the other end of the world, I remember this little apprehension of knowing how it was going to go."

Finishing 4th in the youth classification back in 2014, there were signs of the immense potential of Alaphilippe, although he'd have to wait until August of that year for the first of his now 41 wins. Having had such a glistening career, which memories does the Soudal - Quick-Step stalwart look back upon most fondly?

"Obviously, 2019 stands out because there are a lot of victories and the Tour de France in yellow,” answers the now 31-year-old Frenchman. "But I’m still going to choose 2021 because it’s a year that left its mark on me. The arrival of my son was the most extraordinary thing I have experienced so far, and the season was also very good. If there is a very special season to remember, it would be this one but the year 2019 was something."

Looking ahead to the 2024 season, Alaphilippe finds himself in the final year of his Soudal - Quick-Step contract. Now one of the most experienced riders in the team though, he's keen to pass on his knowledge to the next generation of stars.

"What’s nice is to liaise with our young recruit Antoine Huby who is also there at the start of the first professional race of his career with the team,” he smiles fondly. "He reminds me of myself when I arrived here in 2014. It's nice but it also makes you realise that time is passing and that I'm no longer 22 but 32."