He left for a Tour. Winner of the best climber classification in 2018, wearing the yellow jersey for 14 days in 2019, Julian Alaphilippe returns to the Grande Boucle in Nice without having yet raised his arms in 2020. But the leader of the Deceuninck-Quick Step hopes to do so very quickly, why not from Sunday.
Do you feel in the same state of form today as at the start of the Tour de France 2019?
JULIAN ALAPHILIPPE. There is nothing comparable with last year. We are in a very special season with a different preparation. But the desire is the same, the motivation too.
Do you have the goal of getting the Yellow Jersey quickly?
On paper, yes. But I’ll see how I feel. We will already try with the team to get a good start to make good first steps. Personally, I will see from Sunday with a difficult stage that will allow me to see where I am.
Last year, you were the darling of the public. He will be less present this year because of the Covid. Is it a handicap?
I do not know but it will be special. I have unforgettable memories of last year with this crowd and the enthusiasm that the Yellow Jersey had created around me. I am not about to forget it. This time, being as much as possible in the passes with roads deserted by spectators, it will be special. It’s like a football match in an empty stadium: the public is part of cycling, but for the good of everyone, we must respect all sanitary measures.
What is your goal for the next three weeks?
It is very clear: I did not come here for the general classification. There are steps on the paper that will be convenient for me. I did a lot of reconnaissance and there is plenty to do. If the legs are there, there will be plenty of opportunities to illustrate myself.
You could wear the yellow jersey again on Sunday after climbing the Col de Turini. Do you like it?
I’m not going to hide it, if I have good feelings and things are going in the right direction, Sunday there will be a good opportunity to win the stage and take the jersey. I won’t be the only one to wish it but I will try my luck, that’s for sure.
