He holds her. Julian Alaphilippe won his first stage victory of the season on Tuesday afternoon in Spain. This right arm in the air, a sign of good days, was seen around 5:15 p.m. on the heights of Piava after a perfectly negotiated sprint.
This is his first success since his second world title in Leuven this fall. So far, fate had not smiled on the French. First victim of a very big fall on the Strade Bianche on March 5, he was deprived two weeks later of Milan-San Remo in mid-March due to bronchitis.
Perfectly driven by Remco Evenepoel
He was therefore counting on the Iberian stage race to build up his confidence before his big spring objective, Liège-Bastogne-Liège scheduled for April 24. Things got off to a bad start on Monday with a disappointing time trial. The double world champion had to change bikes due to a chain problem, sending him 44 seconds behind winner Primoz Roglic – who remains overall leader on Tuesday evening.
This time, he was able to take advantage of the talent of his young teammate Remco Evenepoel in the last corners to catch the breakaways under the red flame and impose his power on the steep final sprint (6% drop). Not the most difficult victory of his career, given the competition, but the native of Cher will be satisfied with it. The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl also eyeing a first place since the first stage of the Tour de France 2021, July 7, already won by a certain Alaphilippe.
Note also the presence on the podium of Fabien Doubey (TotalEnergies), second ahead of the Belgian Quiten Hermans (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux). The peloton of the Tour of the Basque Country will ride on Wednesday from Laudio to Amurrio (181.7 km). Alaphilippe’s preparation for the Ardennes Classics will be able to continue with a little more lightness.
