Julian Alaphilippe has been given the leadership of the French national squad for the upcoming Yorkshire World Championships, with the goal of returning the rainbow bands to France for the first time since Laurent Brochard in San Sebastián in 1997.
After an outstanding early 2019 that saw the Deceuninck - Quick-Step rider victorious at Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo and La Flèche Wallonne, Alaphilippe also captured the hearts and minds of the home nation at the Tour de France, winning two stages and wearing the yellow jersey for 14 days before finishing fifth overall.
>>> Yorkshire UCI Road World Championships 2019: routes and more
He will now look to cap off a distinguished season with a win in the road race at the Yorkshire Worlds, where he will face stiff competition from the likes of Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands) and three-time world champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe).
Alaphilippe will be supported by the veteran Tony Gallopin (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Christophe Laporte (Cofidis). Two Deceuninck - Quick-Step team-mates also make the squad, Florian Sénéchal and Rémi Cavagna, the 24-year-old currently riding the Vuelta a España for the Belgian team. Julien Bernard (Trek-Segafredo) and Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ) complete the eight-man squad.
Following the Tour de France, Alaphilippe abandoned the Clásica San Sebastián early in the race, clearly still paying for his efforts in the French Grand Tour. He then raced the Deutschland Tour, alongside Geraint Thomas (Ineos), but didn't trouble any of the classifications or compete for stage victories.
Colombia have announced that Egan Bernal (Ineos) will ride his first Worlds in Yorkshire, which will also be his first ever race in the UK.
Meanwhile, Great Britain have announced their longlists for the four men's and women's squads across both road and time trial disciplines.
Geraint Thomas, Simon and Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), British road race champion Ben Swift (Ineos), as well as Luke Rowe (Ineos) and Hugh Carthy (EF Education First) are amongst the riders competing for a spot in the six-man squad.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
Annemiek van Vleuten to target Vuelta-Tour-Giro treble again next seasonThe Dutchwoman plans to retire at the end of 2023
-
11 of the best photos from the 2022 Road World Championships
There were tears, hugs and kisses in Wollongong, Australia
-
Remco Evenepoel goes long to win the men's World Championships road race solo after stinging attack
The young Belgian was clearly the strongest on the day, but others need to ask themselves how and why they let him go
-
Annemiek van Vleuten soars to victory in World Championships road race despite broken elbow
The Dutch rider took the second road world title of her career with late attack
-
Zoe Bäckstedt retains junior road race title with stunning solo ride at World Championships
The Welsh rider celebrated her 18th birthday with a 58km solo attack and another rainbow jersey
-
Julian Alaphilippe says he is 'not the sole leader' for France in the World Championships road race
The Frenchman played down his form in an interview with L'Équipe
-
Tobias Foss shocks the favourites to win World Championships time trial
The Norwegian claimed the biggest win of his career, while Filippo Ganna finished in seventh
-
Ellen van Dijk claims third time trial title at World Championships
The Dutchwoman won by almost 13 seconds ahead of Grace Brown
