What if Julian Alaphilippe found the summits on the plains of Mayenne? What if he got back his golden tunic lost Sunday in Mûr-de-Bretagne? There is nothing absurd about the question even if the profile of this 5th stage, this Wednesday, between Changé and Laval (Mayenne), a 27.2 km all-flat time trial does not, a priori, represent its terrain. predilection.
We do not expect a festival from him, as in 2019, in Pau, where he had dominated everyone, Geraint Thomas, specialist and outgoing winner of the Grande Boucle including. This time, the terrain is much less rugged and the changes in pace that he likes will be almost nonexistent. On his current form, however, on his motivation, his determination and on that little extra that makes him an exceptional rider, the world champion can hope to keep part of his 23 seconds lead in the general classification over Wout Van Aert. (Jumbo-Visma) and his 31 seconds on Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Emirates), the favorites of the stopwatch.
Cavagna believes in it
“Julian is capable of anything. He’s going to do a great performance, I can tell. “His teammate Rémi Cavagna is well placed to advance a prognosis. The 25-year-old rider is French champion in the specialty in 2020 and on the road this season. “Julian had a very good time trial at the Tour de Suisse (Editor’s note: second 40 seconds behind Rigoberto Uran and especially 14 seconds ahead of Richard Carapaz, over 23.2 km on June 12), specifies Rémi Cavagna who is currently preparing at home for the World Time Trial Championships on September 18 in Bruges (Belgium). He is in good condition. He is ready. “
How to explain his progress in the solitary exercise? “The specialists train three times a week on a special time trial bike,” adds the Frenchman. Julian, it’s once a week and that’s already a lot for a runner who is aiming for classics and stages online. At the end of May, he prepared himself specifically during an internship in Sierra Nevada (Spain). He doesn’t want to neglect anything. As if he already suspected that the general classification would also become an objective for him.
“A time trial is a lot to the mind,” continues Rémi Cavagna. You have to be focused to the end and resist the physical pain. Julian has all his qualities, and then he is an exception. It is complete and even if it has a light build (1.73 m; 62 kg), it has great rolling capacities. “
