After a rough couple of years, Julian Alaphilippe is beginning to regain his confidence and admits that this upcoming summer could be massive in terms of his career.
"I'm looking forward to racing, I'm super motivated and I feel good and free," the 30-year-old Frenchman revealed in a conversation with In de Leiderstrui. “I am super happy to start in the Dauphiné on Sunday and of course I have ambitions. In addition, I especially want to enjoy it. A stage win would be nice, but we'll see how the form is. The first goal is to race the way I want and love. I missed it."
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Twice a winner of the rainbow jersey, Alaphilippe has seen big victories a lot harder to come by over the last couple of years. Not all through his own making either due to injuries and bad luck with crashes. One of his loudest critics has been his own team boss at Soudal - Quick-Step, Patrick Lefevere. Thankfully though, Alaphilippe now feels somewhere near back to his best.
"I'm feeling good. The last time I felt this way was a long time ago," smiles the Frenchman. “I am happy with that and I want to enjoy it. I hope to be back at a top level and hope that everything goes well in the coming period."
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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