Cyclist Julian Alaphilippe, originally from Montluçon, won a second world champion title on Sunday, September 26, 2021 in Belgium. He was crowned for the first time last year at Imola in Italy.
The finish line is approaching, Julian Alaphilippe has a smile on his face. He raises his arms, greets the audience. Encourages him to encourage him. And here it finally arrives, this line! Montluçonnais Julian Alaphilippe heads straight for his second cycling world champion title. In the history of this competition, only six runners have kept the rainbow jersey two years in a row. This year in Belgium, after 268 km of racing, a start in Antwerp and an arrival in Louvain, the French team shone with the Bourbonnais cyclist at the head. He arrived 32 seconds early. A success after a first victory last year at Imola in Italy.
Cyclist Julian Alaphilippe completed the last 17 kilometers alone in the lead
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© Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP
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“Last year, it was already really a dream come true for me, it was very difficult, but at the end a great emotion”, testifies Julian Alaphilippe at the end of the race. “I know what it’s like to do a year in the rainbow jersey and I came here really relaxed, really relaxed. I obviously had a lot of motivation but also a desire to do well. “
Julien Alaphilippe wins this world championship in 5 hours, 56 minutes and 34 seconds. He himself admits being surprised by this second victory. “It wasn’t planned, I didn’t think I was able to last until the end, I have no words. I am happy.”
The Bourbonnais is interrupted in his answers, his teammates come to embrace him, carried by the joy of this title of world champion. “We didn’t stick to the plan too much, but it worked anyway! “, he tells them, with a touch of mischief.
????♂️Julian Alaphilippe explained that he thought of his son in the final kilometers of the race which saw him crown the road world champion for the second year in a row – a feat he did not expect. https://t.co/FgniaL1KLy
– francetvsport (@francetvsport) September 26, 2021
The French team led an intense race. It has always been one step ahead of its competitors, mainly the Belgian team. Julian Alaphilippe, on the back in the first kilometers, then led several attacks. At 18 km from the finish, he took the advantage and his opponents let him slip away. Le Bourbonnais did the last 17 kilometers alone. “I did myself violence, I was thinking of my little one in the final [Il est papa depuis juin dernier NDLR] and a lot of supporters who were for Belgium and Wout Van Aert, on the last lap, were asking me to slow down. They didn’t always have nice words. I want to thank them because it made me want to press even harder. “
And Julian Alaphilippe to hope for a 3rd world champion title: ” Never two without three ! “, he prophesies. See you in Australia in a year for the next cycling world championships.
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