08.03.2025
Paris-Nice kicks off tomorrow with a 156 km stage around Le Perray-en-Yvelines and will conclude next Sunday in Nice.
Julian Alaphilippe will make his first appearance on homesoil with Tudor Pro Cycling and shared his ambitions for the week during a press conference at the team hotel.
“I’m happy to be here.”
“We have different goals this week,” Julian explained. “We’ll be targeting sprint opportunities with Alberto Dainese and aiming for a strong General Classification result with Michael Storer.”
As for his personal ambitions, Julian sees key opportunities ahead:
“There are a couple of stages that suit me really well, and I’m looking forward to them. The Team Time Trial on Tuesday will be a pivotal moment, splitting the race in two, with the second half playing more to my strengths.”
To tackle the challenge, the team brings a balanced mix of experience and young talent: “We have a solid squad with experienced riders like Matteo Trentin, Marco Haller, and Fabian Lienhard, along with promising young riders such as Robin Froidevaux.”
A Race Full of Memories
Reflecting on his early years, Julian recalled the excitement of his first Paris-Nice back in 2015:
“I remember the spirit of my first edition, exactly ten years ago. When you're young, you are excited because you see it as one of the biggest races on the calendar. That’s a special memory.”
And, of course, there’s the unpredictable weather:
“They call it ‘the race to the sun,’ but we don’t always see much of it at the start! Hopefully, conditions will be good this year. If not, we’ll adapt. Either way, I’m feeling confident.”
Ready for the Challenge
After a challenging start to the season due to illness, Julian feels prepared:
“After a bout of flu in late January, I went to an altitude camp in Teide before kicking off my season in Portugal. It was my first time doing that schedule, and now I’ve had time to recover and fully focus on Paris-Nice. I’ve worked hard to be in top shape because this is a race I love.”
His mindset remains unchanged:
“My goal is always to win. I ride to achieve the best possible result. The passion is the same — I give everything I have.”
And when asked about his approach to racing, Julian’s answer was clear: “As we say, we are Born To Dare. That philosophy defines our way of racing. As long as we step on the bus after the race knowing we’ve given our best, we can call it a successful day. I’m confident we’ll have a great week here in France.”
Line-Up Paris-Nice
Julian Alaphilippe
Alberto Dainese
Robin Froidevaux
Marco Haller
Fabian Lienhard
Michael Storer
Matteo Trentin
Photo: Anouk Flesch