In January, we kicked-off a season-long series focused on unknown things about our riders. Very likely, everybody is aware how the Etixx – Quick-Step riders came into the sport or what are their biggest results to date, but few or none know what movies and music they enjoy, or where they like to spend their holidays. Here's your chance to find out all these.
Superstitions: Before the start of a race I close my eyes for a few seconds and think of my family and on doing my best to help the team win or get the victory myself, if there's a race that suits me.
Favourite movies: I like comedies a lot. Being on the road and away from home for so many months during the season, watching comedies in the evening after a hard day on the bike helps me relax and take my mind off things.
Favourite TV series: It doesn't matter if I'm with the team or at home, I always try to find time and watch documentaries about the police and the army. I find both to be very interesting and I want to know as much as possible, to see how they work and how's life there, in the thick of the action.
Favourite music: Music is very important in my life, I love it and it gives me the energy I need every single time. Before coming into cycling, I learnt to play the drum helped by my father, who was an orchestra conductor. Old music, new music, it really doesn't matter. The Police, Sting and AC/DC are among my favourites, but as I said, all kinds of music are to my liking, from rock to lounge music.
Favourite books: I always enjoy a good biography. It doesn't need to be focused on an athlete or on a person who had a major role at some point in history, as long as it's a good and insightful one. I like to discover these people, to know their thought process, the decisions they took, how they managed the different situations and outcomes they faced and what were the most significant events in their life.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele
Julian Alaphilippe 
