Julian Alaphilippe, idol of the flat country: “The Belgians love Julian”, according to his manager Patrick Lefevere

Who loves well chatises as well ? Julian Alaphilippe sent a spade to the Belgian public, in the form of ironic thanks, Sunday in Leuven, in the wake of his second world title. Moments earlier, the crowd had given him a mixed reception at the finish line, between a drink in his direction and a few boos. However, one can think that “Loulou” conquered many hearts in Belgium, according to his exploits under the jersey of the Deceuninck-Quick Step, whose colors he has been defending since 2014.

Consultant for RTBF, Cyril Saugrain recounts the funny atmosphere that accompanied Alaphilippe’s coronation in the land of cycling: “Live this was raised by Gérard Bulens (former sports director who also works on the Belgian channel, Editor’s note). We talked about it. He said: ‘It is sad and it is unhappy’. We associated it with football – and I think it should be said that football is not just that – but yes, it was an event. “

Alaphilippe enjoys his second coronation, in the land of cycling: the arrival in video

Even if it means losing, as much as it is against Alaphilippe

A deceptive event, believes the former French rider, winner of a stage during the 1996 Tour de France: “As often, we hear the minority who bawl in all directions and we do not hear the majority who remain calm, admits the victory of Julian Alaphilippe, admiringly, with a lot of respect and saying to himself: ‘We congratulate him without s’ to inspire enthusiasm because the one we expected was Wout van Aert ‘. “The Belgian people seemed groggy to him, more than vehement:”We felt it a lap and a half from the finish. The pressure has completely dropped. Even us, in the comments, we said to ourselves: ‘It’s done’. ”

Thus, according to Saugrain, Belgium did not harbor any resentment towards “Alaf” on Sunday: “I think that the vast majority of Belgian fans, cycling enthusiasts, on the side of the road, preferred to see Julian Alaphilippe win, rather than Michael Valgren (3rd) or Dylan van Baarle (2nd). Because he was the strongest and because he is the most beautiful world champion that we can have, one year older.” The “stroke of disappointment“Past, shortly after the podium, a sequence of communion between the wearer of the rainbow jersey and the public, symbolized by a” clapping “, confirmed his impression.

Irresistible Alaphilippe: Relive his decisive attack 17km from the finish

“Princely couple”

For Patrick Lefevere too, there is no doubt: “Belgians love Julian [Alaphilippe]. He is very popular here“According to the manager of Deceuninck-Quick Step, this privileged relationship is based on the style of the 29-year-old Frenchman, even more than on his record:”He is appreciated for his spontaneity, his charisma, his way of running. “Cyril Saugrain has the same feeling:”There is a real adhesion to his personality. To the guy more than to the cyclist I would even say. ”

Julian Alaphilippe takes people with him. He has a crazy charisma and he plays with it, develops the one who has been commenting on races for RTBF since 2013. There is also the story, the ‘story’, of a couple where everything is going well, with a little baby and a woman, Marion Rousse, who raced with Lotto, a Belgian team. It is a bit like the princely couple of Belgium, for bike lovers. It brings a glamorous side, it’s not just the sporting side. “In this sense,” Loulou “walks in the eyes of Saugrain in the footsteps of Peter Sagan, who” initiated this in the world of cycling “.

Julian Alaphilippe and Marion Rousse, on the sidelines of the Frenchman’s second world title

Credit: Imago

Long absent from “holy week”

But before succumbing to the charm of the star Alaphilippe, Belgium was first seduced by his impetuous legs. “Very young (at 22 and for his first participation in the Flèche Wallonne in 2015, Editor’s note), he challenges the hegemony of Alejandro Valverde over the Mur de Huy. We realize that we have a very, very talented rider here. A few days later, he came to take 2nd for Liège-Bastogne-Liège while he was still in his early stages at World Tour level. He was immediately a runner who knew how to please“, exposes the former member of the French Games team.

Still, the “Ardennes” do not have the same cachet as the “Flandriennes” in the eyes of many Belgians. “It is true that a large part of Belgium only has eyes for Holy Week between the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, corroborates Saugrain. These are races where it took a long time to come.” For several reasons : “The Quick-Step team already had the weapons to play for victory (without him). And Julian [Alaphilippe] had to grow, mature, before coming to these races. Rather, he’s the kind of runner to line up only when he’s already able to win.. ”

So his pedigree was built elsewhere: “The Tour de France immediately gives you the stripes of a great rider and the first times he went there, it was brilliant. “Illustration: 2nd on a stage, behind Sagan, from his debut on the Grande Boucle in 2016, then winner of two packages matching the polka-dot jersey, for his second visit in 2018. Before the 2019 Tour, who has it passes into a new galaxy.

Julian gradually built his Belgian side in this French nationality

All he needed was to tackle the Tour of Flanders – Roubaix will perhaps come one day – to become a local hero. Something done in 2020 with a remarkable presence at the front of the race, alongside specialists Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel. Then a mythical sun. Even if Patrick Lefevere considers that the popularity rating of Alaphilippe has exploded “as soon as he turned pro at (him) “, the boss of the benchmark Belgian formation recognizes that this race marked the spirits:”Before his fall from a motorcycle he impressed everyone. ”

The Belgians were not beaten by one of their own on Sunday as they expected their champion to triumph on his home soil. But almost. “Julian [Alaphilippe] gradually built its Belgian side in this French nationality“, summarizes Cyril Saugrain. And if Alaphilippe completes its collection of iridescent swimsuits in the years to come, Belgium will find its share of influence there, since it is under contract with Quick-Step until 2024.

Alaphilippe at the end of the effort: the summary of the Frenchman’s second world title

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