The Italian World Tour event Strade Bianche will be Julian Alaphilippe’s (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) first race in the second part of the year
![]() |
Alaphilippe resumes season at Strade Bianche
Julian Alaphilippe is set to defend his title at Strade Bianche, where last season he captured the victory at his very debut in the race and delivered France’s first ever victory at the race, following a powerful surge on the last uphill part, in the historic center of Siena.
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel
“Winning last year was an amazing feeling, one of my best memories of the season. I came at the start with a great shape, was really focused and had a very strong team always around me until the race came to life inside the final hour. I love the parcours and the atmosphere of Strade Bianche and it will be interesting to restart the season there, especially as it comes after a different preparation than I had last year.”
The coronavirus pandemic meant that the Velo d’Or winner had to change his original schedule, leading to a return of the Tuscan one-day race on his calendar, together with another mainstream Italian race – Milano-Sanremo – the site of his maiden Monument win, which he captured after emerging from an elite ten-rider group on the famed Via Roma, in what was a nail-biting finish.
“Taking my first Monument on the Via Roma was incredible! I owe that victory to the Wolfpack, they were absolutely incredible on that day. Having great legs and being very confident also helped me claim what I still consider the biggest victory of my career. I’m happy to be back at the start this year and pin on number one on my jersey.”
The Critérium du Dauphiné (12-16 August) and the National Championships (23 August) will be Alaphilippe’s next appointments, ahead of a third consecutive participation at the Tour de France, the race whose main protagonist he was last year, when he scored a brace of stage wins and carried the yellow jersey for 14 days.
“The Dauphiné is the best preparation for the Tour de France. It will be a special edition with many hard stages, but that doesn’t scare me and I would love to win again a stage, like last year. As for the National Championships, I think it’s every rider’s dream to win the tricolour. I will give it my all, even though the parcours doesn’t really suit me like the old one in Plumelec”, added the 28-year-old Frenchman. “Anyway, I will take it one step at a time. At the moment, the preparation is going well, I’m happy to be here in Val di Fassa with the guys, I talked with the team about my goals and I’m really eager to restart the season to see how I feel and what I can do.”
Cycle Division’s Shop
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- UAE Tour: Stage 4
- News: New Head of Creative at Ribble Cycles
- UAE Tour: Stage 3
- News: Cavendish for Le Samyn
- Interview: John Archibald
- This weekend: Deceuninck – Quick-Step
- 2021 Critérium du Dauphiné Route
- UAE Tour – Stage 2 Time Trial
- Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var: Stage 3
- UAE Tour: First win to Mathieu van der Poel
- Central Region Junior RR Team Manager
- Tour Du Var – Stage 2
- Team News: Win for Mollema at Haut Var
- News: Tour Du Var – Stage 1
- News: Elite Status Changes
- News: Deceuninck – Quick-Step to UAE Tour
- Feature Interview: Alexandar Richardson (Alpecin-Fenix)
- News: Quintana Back Racing
- News: UAE Tour: Provisional Riders List
- News: Wout van Aert Training in Tenerife
- News: Quickstep off to Spain to train
- News: Alaphilippe’s On form for 2021 Targets
- News: 2021 Women’s Tour Postponed
- Q&A: Martha Lebentz (Team Tofauti Everyone Active)
- Tour de Provence – Second for World Champ Alaphilippe
- Former winners Perfs Pedal Road Race
- News: Drops 2021 Calendar
- INFO: 2021 Vuelta Stages
- News: Two from Two for Davide Ballerini
- News: Ballerini strikes on Provence opening day
- News: Giro Wildcard for Eolo Kometa
- News: Cavendish Opens Season at Almeria
- Interview: Sean Yates (Eolo Kometa)
- More National Series Events Cancelled
- Year of Exploration for Tom Pidcock says coach Kurt Bogaerts
- News: Archibald Set to Race
- World Champion Racing This Week
- News: Steve Cummings Joins Ineos
- News: Ganna to support Adam Yates in UAE Tour
- News: Stewart 4th in Etoile de Bessèges
Other News on VeloUK
- UAE Tour: Stage 4
- News: New Head of Creative at Ribble Cycles
- UAE Tour: Stage 3
- News: Cavendish for Le Samyn
- Interview: John Archibald
- This weekend: Deceuninck – Quick-Step
- 2021 Critérium du Dauphiné Route
- UAE Tour – Stage 2 Time Trial
- Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var: Stage 3
- UAE Tour: First win to Mathieu van der Poel
- Central Region Junior RR Team Manager
- Tour Du Var – Stage 2
- Team News: Win for Mollema at Haut Var
- News: Tour Du Var – Stage 1
- News: Elite Status Changes
- News: Deceuninck – Quick-Step to UAE Tour
- News: Quintana Back Racing
- News: UAE Tour: Provisional Riders List
- News: Wout van Aert Training in Tenerife
- News: Quickstep off to Spain to train
- News: Alaphilippe’s On form for 2021 Targets
- News: 2021 Women’s Tour Postponed
- Tour de Provence – Second for World Champ Alaphilippe
- Former winners Perfs Pedal Road Race
- News: Drops 2021 Calendar
- INFO: 2021 Vuelta Stages
- News: Two from Two for Davide Ballerini
- News: Ballerini strikes on Provence opening day
- News: Giro Wildcard for Eolo Kometa
- News: Cavendish Opens Season at Almeria
- Interview: Sean Yates (Eolo Kometa)
- More National Series Events Cancelled
- Year of Exploration for Tom Pidcock says coach Kurt Bogaerts
- News: Archibald Set to Race
- World Champion Racing This Week
- News: Steve Cummings Joins Ineos
- News: Ganna to support Adam Yates in UAE Tour
- News: Stewart 4th in Etoile de Bessèges
- 2022 Commonwealth Games Competition Manager
- 2021 Liège-Bastogne-Liège – a new climb