"My decision has been made and I will communicate about it soon" - Julian Alaphilippe confirms his future is decided but won't reveal where just yet

Julian Alaphilippe has been showing some signs of being back close to his best in 2024, starring at the Giro d'Italia earlier this year and much more recently, finishing a very close second behind Marc Hirschi at Clasica San Sebastian on Saturday.

Over recent days however, Alaphilippe has been a hot topic on the lips of cycling fans, not just for his performances on the bike, but also for his much discussed future in the professional peloton as his time at Soudal - Quick-Step with Patrick Lefevere seemingly at an end.

As was first reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport's Ciro Scognamiglio, Alaphilippe is rumoured to be heading to the Tudor Pro Cycling Team, with Soudal - Quick-Step boss Lefevere even confirming the Frenchman's imminent departure. “Julian Alaphilippe called me himself this week to let me know he was leaving. He had been awake at night and had been sick for weeks, but he told me he would be leaving the team," Lefevere said.

Now, Alaphilippe himself has come out with a comment on the rumours and reports. "I can't say more, but I know a little more," says Alaphilippe intriguingly from the Clasica San Sebastian last Saturday, according to French outlet RMC Sport. "My decision has been made and I will communicate about it soon. Nothing has been signed yet, but in my mind the deal is done."

The Tudor Pro Cycling Team was set to sign the late Gino Mäder into the 2024 season, as said by Alexander Kamp earlier in the year, and it continues to be in search of the best Swiss riders. A report in March has linked winner in San Sebastián Marc Hirschi to the ProTeam and the signing is still expected to happen. It is quite possible that the team currently led by the likes of Matteo Trentin and Arvid de Kleijn will feature even more classics specialists in their lineup next year.