First reigning World Champion to take a win at #Itzulia in 61 editions! Top job, @alafpolak1! Photo: @GettySport
Julian Alaphilippe: "I came with a lot of motivation at the start and this victory gives me a lot of satisfaction"
CyclingTuesday, 05 April 2022 at 21:00
Julian Alaphilippe has had a difficult start to the season with illnesses and crashes derailing his form, but approaching his big goal of the spring in the Ardennes classics the Frenchman is getting into form and has taken the bunch sprint at the second stage of Itzulia Basque Country.
“I like racing in the Basque Country. The amazing fans and the hard course make for a great race every time, these being just some of the reasons that made me happy to return here after three years. I didn’t have the best start to the season, but I came with a lot of motivation at the start and this victory gives me a lot of satisfaction," Alaphilippe said in a post-race interview.
"The team was incredible today, they all did a perfect job keeping me protected the entire day and chasing down the attackers," he added. After a late chase, the peloton was able to catch up with the last survivor of the breakaway inside the final kilometer with some work from Quick-Step, and Remco Evenepoel put Alaphilippe in perfect position for the final sprint, where the World champion took the uphill dash to the line for a comfortable win.
"Then Remco was perfect, pushing a huge tempo in the final kilometer and leaving me ideally placed at the right moment on this technical finale. My goal here was to take a win and now that I did it, I will try to return the favour to Remco and help him in the next stages," he concluded.
Alaphilippe may go for another stage win this week, but he will likely not be present in the fight for the overall classification as he's eyeing the Ardennes classics. He'll be riding alongside Remco Evenepoel in hunt of more success at Itzulia.
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