Julian Alaphilippe looks back on his time as World Champion ahead of Sunday’s race in Flanders.
This time last year, on a tough course tailored to his skills, Julian Alaphilippe was flying to a resounding victory that would long live in the memory. Taking the rainbow jersey brought Julian an unforgettable twelve-month spell as World Champion, he held ever since finishing runner up the 2010 Junior World Cyclo-Cross Championships.
Julian’s year was branded with the panache he showed every time he took to a start line and stayed true to his offensive nature, honouring the rainbow bands and lighting up the race in swashbuckling fashion.
The Deceuninck – Quick-Step man racked up four victories during his time as World Champion, the most notable of these being Flèche Wallonne – where he reigned supreme for the third time in his career – and the opening stage of the Tour de France. But what made this year so special for Alaphilippe weren’t just those wins, but also the birth of his son – all things he talked about in this emotional video.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
Julian Alaphilippe 