Here's what we can expect from Julian Alaphilippe at the Tour de France: 'Testament to my resilience'

On Saturday, Julian Alaphilippe will line up at the start of his eighth Tour de France. The veteran has already won six stages at the Tour de France, and that seems to be his only goal again this year. But what can we realistically expect from the Tudor rider, after a lackluster spring season?

"I feel good. I gave it my all during training, and the last few weeks went well,"he told Domestique during a press conference. That’s certainly a positive sign, especially after Alaphilippe had a difficult 2026. Not only hasn't he won any races this year, he hasn't troubled the podium spots much, either.

And so the Frenchman says: “It’s hard to assess my physical condition, but I’ve seen positive signs during my preparation and the latest training sessions, so I’m very happy to be here at the start of my eighth Tour, and I’m highly motivated.” As part of that preparation, he spent four weeks training at altitude in the Sierra Nevada.

Next came the GP Gippingen and the Tour de Suisse. He finished fifth in the first race, and in the second race, he did not start the final stage. “I’ve been feeling much better since then. I don’t know if I can say I’m 100%, but I think I’m getting close, and to be honest, I feel good. I feel really good, motivated, and let’s see what we can achieve.”

Aside from his own lackluster spring, Tudor hasn't had a spectacular 2026 so far either. “It’s no surprise that the team hasn’t been as successful as we’d like since the start of the season, and I’m part of that too. It’s not the start to the season I’d hoped for,” said the rider from the team, which has won only twice so far this year.

But: “It doesn’t cause stress. Of course, we’re extra motivated to have a good Tour de France, because it’s the biggest race of the year. It’s incredibly important to us—to everyone. We know how difficult it will be, but everyone is motivated, and I’m really happy to be here.”

Alaphilippe himself says he’s ready to give it his all. “And do my best to achieve a good result. A stage win would be a dream come true. It motivates me tremendously—and the team, too—so we’re going for it and giving it everything we’ve got,” he said.

A new stage victory would mark his first success in the Tour de France since 2021. “That would mean a great deal to me. It would be a testament to my resilience, because I’ve experienced some amazing moments in my career, but also some much more difficult ones, such as in recent years and months.”

"So yes, it's still something I dream of—winning a stage in the Tour—and if it happens, it would mean a great deal to me," Alaphilippe concluded. In addition to the Frenchman, Tudor has other cards to play in the quest for stage victory, including Michael Storer, Arvid de Kleijn, and Marc Hirschi.