Ciao, Loulou 😃 #Giro
"It wasn't for the breakaway today, that's how it is" - Julian Alaphilippe rues another missed chance at Giro d'Italia
CyclingSunday, 12 May 2024 at 12:49
Julian Alaphilippe tried to match Tadej Pogacar on stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia; and on stage 6 he joined the breakaway and went on to finish second on the day. On the first day in the high-mountains the former World Champion went all out from early on as traditional but is disappointed with the fierce chasing coming from UAE Team Emirates.
"I wanted to give it a try. I have no regrets, I tried even if it wasn't easy," Alaphilippe said in words to Cyclism'Actu. "It was a bit hard for the group to collaborate well, we never got much ahead I even hesitated to get up at one point, but I don't really like doing that." The Frenchman, as traditional over the past two years, attacked several times - even from the breakaway - early in the day to try and build a group with enough strength to reach the finish ahead of the peloton.
Ultimately however this wasn't to be, but even if it was, the Soudal - Quick-Step rider was already distanced at the very base of Prati di Tivo. Another day down without a striking result to this Corsa Rosa where he hopes to return to the top step in a big World Tour race.
"UAE had a plan to make Pogacar win today I think even if I had restarted with a smaller group and riders who were less close overall, they would still have been riding hard behind them," he believes. "It wasn't for the breakaway today, that's how it is, on days like that, you have to have morale."
Read also
claps 0visitors 172
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I don't think it's only a British thing; the biggest talents aren't usually drawn to CX. Where are all the top Italian, French, Spanish, Slovenian CX riders? Apart from Belgium, and Netherlands, it's not really a target for up and coming cyclists - as there's no career unless you move to Belgium. Other countries can't support a proper professional series, like an international sport should be able to do. Lets not forget, since 2016, British riders have won plenty of World championships; with Pidcock, Richards, Tulett & Backstedt all winning more than one..... And, there was a time when Belgium didn't rule the roost in CX; that was Switzerland, but since the advent of XC MTB, their top off-road talents race there instead of CX - and the 2nd raters not good enough for XC MTB, race CX.wipperman9519-12-2024
- "25-34 are only 13% of USA Cyclings membership" Wow. I own a bike shop, and that number comports both with what I see in the business as well as on the road and trails, but it's somehow hugely demoralizing to see it quantified. Thirteen percent?verve82519-12-2024
- What super dutch talent are we talking about?awp18-12-2024
- Yes, 25-34 are only 13% of USA Cyclings membership.awp18-12-2024
- I will take the old days when you could track your teams across 8 years. Can't imagine a new fan finding it easy.Sweep18-12-2024
- Pick better parents and/or better doping agents.
ChoppyWarburton18-12-2024 - The bike industry situation is the same as the future Dutch talent pool discussion , it’s a fakely perceived problem due to an exceptional period that’s come to an end.Mistermaumau18-12-2024
- It's all a part of the fun. Sometimes it takes a few races before you can tell who's who and what's going on.
santiagobenites18-12-2024 - Every year cycling teams force their fans to memorize the jersey colors of all the teams so you can tell which team is doing what in a race. Not like normal sports where the jersey's and numbers mostly stay the same year after year.Sweep18-12-2024
- Genetics? No, mostly PEDS. Armstrong proved that.Sweep18-12-2024