Julian Alaphilippe says Wout van Aert 'deserved the victory' at Milan - San Remo 2020
The Frenchman says he has mixed feeling after finishing runner-up at the race he won last year
Julian Alaphilippe says Wout van Aert deserved the Milan - San Remo victory after beating him in the two-up sprint to decide the first Monument of the season.
The Frenchman had attacked on the Poggio and only the Strade Bianche 2020 winner was able to follow, catching up to the defending champion on the downhill and working together to keep their chasers at bay, deciding to let the faster sprinter take the glory.
"For sure I have mixed feelings," Alaphilippe said after losing that sprint. "I'm really happy to be on the podium, I knew that Wout [van Aert] would be really strong and in the end he deserved the victory."
After the Cipressa and other new climbs of the new inland route had failed to shed fast men such as Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and a sizeable group were looking to make their way to the line together, Alaphilippe attacked on the Poggio in what proved to be the decisive move, Sunweb's Michael Matthews beating Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) in the sprint for the line behind.
"I went full gas on the Poggio, Wout went with me, and on the downhill. I knew I couldn't stay away alone so we worked together in the last 2km and at the end it was a really hard sprint. We fought against each other and he was stronger."
Both riders will see each other next week at the Critérium du Dauphiné, where Van Aert will be dialling into life as a domestique ahead of Jumbo-Visma's Tour de France ambitions. Meanwhile, Alaphilippe's panache is intact, not even a global pandemic able to dent it, so answers on a postcard please for what the Frenchman could have in store for us at this year's Tour.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 20 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
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
‘It’s super special’ - Tadej Pogačar on taking his sixth Monument victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège
The UAE Team Emirates rider took a dominant victory at La Doyenne with a decisive attack on La Redoute
By Joseph Lycett Published
-
Grace Brown outsprints the favourites to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes
The FDJ-SUEZ rider finally takes the victory at La Doyenne after finishing runner-up in 2020 and 2022
By Joseph Lycett Published
-
Julian Alaphilippe claims to have raced 11 times this spring with a broken knee
The Frenchman still managed to finish ninth at Milan-San Remo, miraculously
By Adam Becket Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel not intimidated by Tadej Pogačar’s form ahead of Milan-San Remo clash
Dutchman starts his 2024 road season at Italian Monument on Saturday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'wouldn’t be surprised' to see attacks before the Poggio at Milan-San Remo
British rider will lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers alongside Filippo Ganna
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I don't know if I'll be at this team or in cycling next year': Julian Alaphilippe on the Giro d'Italia, finding his form, and his relationship with Patrick Lefevere
Frenchman will focus on the Classics and then the Giro d'Italia in his contract year at Quick-Step
By Adam Becket Published
-
'This was the day that I realised I'm quite good at racing' - Matej Mohorič remembers the ride that changed him
A stage winner in all three Grand Tours, as well as Milan-San Remo, Mohorič reflects back on his 2012 Junior World Championships victory
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Glasgow World Championships 2023: Eight riders to watch in the elite men's road race
Remco Evenepoel gets set to defend the title he won in Wollongong, Australia last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘I surprised myself’ - Julian Alaphilippe back to winning ways on stage two of Critérium du Dauphiné
Former world champion rediscovers form ahead of the Tour de France
By Tom Davidson Published
-
21 things you didn't know about Julian Alaphilippe
From his cyclo-cross beginnings to his favourite film genre
By Tom Davidson Published