Julian Alaphilippe will probably not see the yellow jersey again this year, after having worn it on Sunday, during the second stage, then ceded to Mathieu Van der Poel. “I could have hoped for a little better on this time,” admitted the world champion, 14th in the time trial of the Tour de France, Wednesday in Laval, and now 4th overall, 28 seconds behind the small- son of “Poupou”. “I didn’t want to waste too much time but I wasn’t having a great day,” admitted the Frenchman, who finished this fifth stage 1 minute and 11 seconds behind the impressive Slovenian Tadej Pogacar.
🚴🇫🇷 Julian Alaphilippe has finished!
The Frenchman finished 1’10 “90 behind Tadej Pogacar and will not take back his yellow jersey today # TDF2021
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– France tv sport (@francetvsport) June 30, 2021
“I really liked the course, the encouragement from the people. But, on this type of course, it’s the legs that speak, ”added Alaphilippe, who made an appointment for other stages. “We are in the first week, a lot of things will happen, announced the rider of the Deceuninck team. There are still plenty of opportunities, I have things in mind but I want to see how I am recovering and analyze why things were not going well today. “
“An incredible week”
“Pogacar set the record straight, congratulations to him, he came to win the Tour. Me, I want to have fun. I’m super happy with my start to the Tour, it’s an incredible week for me and for the team. The results are more than satisfactory with two stages, the yellow jersey, the green jersey… You have to savor these moments, you can’t win all the time, ”continued Alaphilippe.
“We must not forget the number one objective. We came to win stages, not to win the Tour “, concluded the world champion who added:” I do not have to be disappointed, even if I would have liked to have better legs. “