Julian Alaphilippe confirmed for Olympic Games and dreaming of gold: "We're going to race to get the best possible result, and not copy the others"

The startlist for the Olympic Games events are slowly taking shape and the home nation of France have already announced their '4' for the road race. Thomas Voeckler had a difficult time deciding which riders they would take for the race and what tactics they'd use, but there was little question that former World Champion Julian Alaphilippe would be part of this plan.

"Obviously very proud and happy to be there and to officially have my selection", Alaphilippe said in a press conference, in words collected by Cyclism'Actu. "It's been in the back of my mind for a while to participate in the Olympics and prepare to be 100% there."

With him will race classics specialists Christophe Laporte, Valentin Madouas and Kévin Vauquelin. The Arkéa rider has recently won a stage at the Tour, Laporte is showing brilliant form in support of Jonas Vingegaard whilst former national champion Madouas has won the Bretagne Classic last summer which has very similar distance and profile to the race that will take place in Paris. Left out were riders such as Benoît Cosnefroy, Romain Grégoire and national champion Paul Lapeira in a route that suited them all, but Voeckler insisted the team has a specific plan and chose the riders best fit for it - whilst not revealing specific details, naturally.

It is a race that teams will try not to control, but instead attack right from the start. France has four weapons who can be aggressive, enter the race under the radar but having a chance to win: "It's a team that I'm happy to see on paper. I'm looking forward to this event, super motivated. Our opponents? We're going to be wary of everyone. We know the strong nations and individuals," Alaphilippe admits. But after having won a stage at the Giro d'Italia - and recently again at the Tour of Slovakia, the Soudal - Quick-Step rider's confidence will be on a high after a few rough years.

"Everything concerning the race, we'll talk about it with Thomas (Voeckler, national coach, ed.), we have time to see and plan. We're going to race to get the best possible result, and not copy the others. Regarding the course, I'm happy that it's long, it's going to be a tough race. It's a beautiful terrain, can't wait to be there and discover the layout."