The Frenchman got away in the last two kilometers of Monday’s Vuelta a San Juan stage and took his first win of the season.
It’s only January 28 and Julian Alaphilippe has already crossed the finish line arms aloft, two weeks earlier than he had done so in 2018, when he soloed to victory at Colombia Oro y Paz. Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s pocket-rocket climber, winner of twelve races last year, put the final touch to the superb job of his teammates, who controlled the Vuelta a San Juan stage 2 from the very outset and left him well-positioned, in third wheel, as the peloton tackled the Punta Negra climb for the fourth and final time on Monday.
Due to the high temperatures, the organisers invoked the extreme weather protocol and shortened the stage, which rolled out from Chimbas later than initially scheduled. Deceuninck – Quick-Step took the initiative and drilled the pace at the front of the bunch soon after things got underway, permanently keeping an eye on the four escapees’ advantage, who never went north of five minutes.
Inside the last ten kilometers, it was all over for the breakaway, which by that point consisted of only one rider, who was hauled back by the Wolfpack, who then continued to head the bunch on the run-in to the 1.1km hill averaging 8.2%. It was on these stiff gradients that Alaphilippe attacked, a move only two other riders could match. On the descent, sensing that what was left of the pack wasn’t too far behind, the 26-year-old Frenchman distanced his two companions with a perfectly-timed acceleration and rode under the flamme rouge arch with a few seconds in hand.
This buffer proved enough for Julian to hold off the chasers and open his 2019 account in style, on a day that saw also Remco Evenepoel – who finished together with the main group after working for his teammate throughout the stage – make a trip to the podium to collect the green jersey awarded to the best young rider of Vuelta a San Juan.
“The entire team did a great job and I was motivated in the finale, but when I attacked I never imagined I would finish alone, so I must say I surprised myself with this victory. I am happy and proud to get the win, which only serves as confirmation of all the hard work I put in during last winter. It is always important to start the season on the right foot, as it gives you a nice feeling and confidence”, said Julian, who landed Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s third UCI victory of the year.
Monday’s result helped him jump to second in the general classification, just three seconds off the lead ahead of tomorrow’s 12km-long individual time trial, but Alaphilippe stressed out that he isn’t thinking of the overall standings for the time being: “It’s true that I took ten bonus seconds today, but the GC wasn’t my goal when I arrived here, as I was just thinking of getting a stage victory. Of course, I will try to do a good time trial and continue to take things day by day and see where this leads at the end of the week.”
Photo credit: ©Sigfrid Eggers
