Tudor at the Tour thanks to Alaphilippe? Absolutely not, according to the Frenchman: "I haven’t won anything yet"

In his first year with his new Swiss employer, Alaphilippe has yet to win. It was only in the recently held Tour of Switzerland that the former world champion managed to secure a place of honor, with a fourth place in the first stage as his best result. In the Tour, Alaphilippe is obviously hoping to go for a stage win.

In the first week of the Tour, the Frenchman will be presented with a course that he usually feels comfortable on. "The first week certainly offers plenty of opportunities for riders like me, Marc (Hirschi, ed.), and all the punchers in the peloton. But it will also be restless, with the riders for the GC in the mix... But that's part of the Tour, and I can't complain about that, of course. I'm pleased with the Tour route, especially this first week, and I'm really looking forward to it."

The fact that Alaphilippe is still without a victory this season has not diminished his confidence. “I've started the Tour before without having won earlier in the season,” he recalls, “so there's no frustration, especially since I gave it my all in preparation.”

During the home rider's press conference, Tudor was asked whether he had received an invitation to the Tour de France as a result of Alaphilippe's success. The rider in question denied this. “It's definitely not thanks to me that the team is taking part in the Tour. I think we've performed very well since the start of the season, and not because of me, because I haven't won anything yet, so I think the discussion is over, and I'm motivated to ride a good Tour and give everything for the team.”

In the press release shared earlier this week, it was already clear that Alaphilippe will mainly have to rely on the first week. “He is coming off a good week in the Tour of Switzerland, so he will want to show his explosiveness in the hilly stages.” Incidentally, there is no single leader, as Alaphilippe shares the leadership with Marc Hirschi. The Swiss rider has already won a stage in 2020 and is returning to the Tour de France after a two-year absence.

Tudor will be making its debut in the world's biggest cycling race. “Being here with the team, I think it's a source of joy for everyone, whether it's the riders, the staff, or the sponsors. It's a great moment, and we want to showcase the team kit and give it our all, and that motivates me, too.”