Happy in the streets of Carcassonne!
A few seconds after crossing the line this Friday, Julian Alaphilippe kisses everyone wearing a Deceuninck - Quick Step jersey.
From trainers to the press officer, including a few teammates.
The world champion is delighted with the fourth stage victory on this Tour for his teammate Mark Cavendish, which allows the Englishman to equal the famous record of Eddy Merckx.
How to define this day?
JULIAN ALAPHILIPPE.
When it ends like that, it's great.
But it was not an easy day.
I thought I would rest a bit but hey, when a stage ends like this, it's great.
When I heard in the final that Mark had won, it was a great feeling.
We couldn't ask for more.
What can you say about his 34th stage success?
It really is special.
There are no words.
It is a pleasure to devote yourself to someone like him.
Even more when it's a friend and even more when it's for Mark.
It is very special.
It makes the victory even more beautiful.
Read also Tour de France: why does Cavendish win all the sprints?
Was he thinking about this record?
He'll think about it when he defeats him.
In any case, he's not only a great runner, but also a great guy.
When you see his career and the way he bounced back from difficult years, doubts and failures, it's very beautiful.
His career is not just his number of Tour victories, but everything he has accomplished.
I have always gotten on well with him since my first professional year.
I'm not going to take the ointment now that he's earning so much.
I am just very happy.
Now, we will soon arrive in Andorra on your land ...
There are some great stages tomorrow and the day after tomorrow (
Editor's note: Saturday and Sunday
).
But I didn't think I would hurt myself so bad today.
Either way, we don't put pressure on ourselves.
Our Tour is more than successful.