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Cycling: Alaphilippe party, France gold 23 years later

2020-09-27T20:14:44.596Z


Prediction respected at the World Cup, and second is Van Aert (ANSA)"I can't find the words, I'm crowning a dream, it's the best moment of my career". Even if you are the favorite on the eve and therefore simply respect the predictions, the victory in a World Cup offers sensations that will remain inside for life. Today, in Imola, it happened to the Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe, who brought the rainbow jersey back to his country 23 years after Laurent Brochard's s


"I can't find the words, I'm crowning a dream, it's the best moment of my career". Even if you are the favorite on the eve and therefore simply respect the predictions, the victory in a World Cup offers sensations that will remain inside for life. Today, in Imola, it happened to the Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe, who brought the rainbow jersey back to his country 23 years after Laurent Brochard's success in San Sebastian. Alaphilipe did it in the same way as Vittorio Adorni in the now distant 1968, that is by winning by posting, with a 24 '' advantage over the other cyclist with whom he shared the favors of the eve, or the Belgian Wout Van Aert, who on the podium is was the image of disappointment. Tears of joy, on the other hand, for Alaphilippe, also in the memory of his father who passed away months ago, and for the Swiss Marc Hirschi, 22 who two years ago was world champion under 23 and now celebrates a bronze at an absolute level that he did not expect so soon, after just over a year of professionalism. Moreover, he won it ahead of a former world champion like the Pole Michal Kwiatowski, another of the protagonists of the race finale. Italy did what it could, with a Damiano Caruso always in evidence, and in the end tenth, and with Vincenzo Nibali, 15 / o, who tried the extension on the last climb of the Mazzolano, after he had been restarted the winner of the Tour a week ago, Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, who had tried a new feat but then paid the effort. When he got back to him, the fight in the group started, with many shots, in particular first that of the Dutch Tom Dumoulin, then with Italy in the front row with Caruso and Nibali, closely followed by Van Aert (for whom today he worked a lot, with great humility, a companion of the caliber of the Rio 2016 Olympian Greg van Avermaet), the Colombian Rigoberto Uran and the Spaniard Mikel Landa. Even this attempt, however, failed and then the decisive moment was that of the last pass on the Gallisterna: Hirschi forced the pace, Nibali was the last blue to surrender, but the right shot was that of Alaphilippe , who soon gained about fifteen seconds, then managed to increase them by another handful until the finish. That's right, Alaphilippe was one of the big favorites and always tries to put on a show, a bounty of cycling who left a secure job ("1200 euros a month") in the armed forces for cycling. "But I didn't want to believe it until I crossed the finish line - says the Frenchman -. Other times I was listed among the favorites and then I didn't even get on the podium. Thanks to all those who believed in me, and first of all to the coach Thomas Voeckler for the trust. Now let me enjoy my dream come true. "

Source: ansa

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