Julian Alaphilippe, one of cycling’s biggest names, made a major career shift last winter when he left Soudal–Quick-Step after years of internal friction to join Tudor Pro Cycling Team. The move marked a complete change of scenery for the two-time World Champion, who went from a top-tier powerhouse to a second-division squad with new ambitions and a different mission.
End of a Long Quick-Step Chapter
Alaphilippe’s professional journey began with Quick-Step in 2013 after impressing in France’s under-23 ranks. The Belgian team, famed for its classics riders and sprinters, became the platform for his rise. Though not a traditional cobbled classics rider, Alaphilippe excelled as a puncheur thriving on short, steep climbs that required explosive power and endurance. His peak years included back-to-back World Championships in Imola and Leuven and a spectacular 2019 Tour de France, where he won two stages, spent much of the race in yellow, and reignited France’s dream of a home champion.
He amassed six Tour stage wins, plus victories at Milano–Sanremo, Strade Bianche, Clásica San Sebastián, and the Tour’s KOM jersey, among others. However, crashes, illnesses, and a public fallout with team boss Patrick Lefevere whose repeated criticisms even targeted Alaphilippe’s wife, Marion Rousse soured the relationship. By the end of 2024, both rider and manager had gone their separate ways.
New Chapter at Tudor: Big Expectations, Slow Start
Tudor Pro Cycling, led by Fabian Cancellara, aimed to establish itself as a WorldTour-level team, signing high-profile names like Alaphilippe and Marc Hirschi. Despite the star power, early results were modest. The Frenchman’s trademark explosive style was ill-suited to a calendar increasingly dominated by all-rounders such as Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel. His best spring highlight came at Amstel Gold Race, where an aggressive attack helped shape the finale even if it didn’t yield a podium.
Rebound in the Summer
By the Tour de Suisse, Alaphilippe rediscovered form, finishing fifth overall an impressive result in an era when the climbing standards have skyrocketed. At the Tour de France, he showed flashes of brilliance, including fifth place on Stage 2 behind Van der Poel, Pogačar, Vingegaard, and Grégoire. Though he briefly celebrated what he thought was a stage win in Carcassonne, the victory had already gone to Tim Wellens and Victor Campenaerts.
Finishing Strong
Alaphilippe’s season closed on a high. After a solid showing at the Tour of Britain (third overall), he took a commanding solo victory at the WorldTour GP de Québec his first major win with Tudor and later placed third at Tre Valli Varesine behind Pogačar. These results solidified Tudor’s credibility among the sport’s elite, with teammates like Michael Storer later joining podiums alongside cycling’s biggest stars.
Measuring Success
Whether Alaphilippe’s transfer was a success depends on expectations. He was never likely to recapture Grand Tour or World Championship glory, but by delivering renewed exposure, leadership, and key victories for Tudor, the 33-year-old met and arguably exceeded realistic goals. For both the rider and his new team, the move has proven both stabilizing and symbolic of a successful fresh start.
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