"It’s good for morale before I travel to Paris” - Julian Alaphilippe victorious in final outing before Olympic road race at Czech Tour 2024

Julian Alaphilippe is one of the big French medal hopes in the cycling at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Although the games are well underway, the Frenchman has been taking part in the 2024 Czech Tour over the last few days and managed to take a brilliant victory in the final stage.

Although well out of the general classification race, Alaphilippe was the first of the big names to make a move in the finale of the final stage. The Yellow Jersey wearing Marc Hirschi was straight on the back wheel though, and although in the final few hundred metres they were caught by the chasers, Alaphilippe nevertheless led home Hirschi with Sergio Higuita a close third.

“I am very happy with this stage win, which wouldn’t have been possible without the beautiful work of my teammates, who controlled the stage and brought me where I needed to be going into the final laps," reflected the former world champion to Soudal - Quick-Step's official website in his post-stage 4 interview afterwards.

"The circuit, with the cobbles and that descent, was hard and demanding, but I enjoyed it. I felt good today and gave my best, so I’m naturally delighted with this success," Alaphilippe concludes. "It’s good for morale before I travel to Paris.”

In the Olympic road race, Alaphilippe is part of a four man French team, joined by the likes of recent Tour de France stage winner Kevin Vauquelin, former French national champion Valentin Madouas and current European champion Christophe Laporte.