Julian Alaphilippe of Deceunick-Quick Step became the first Frenchman to win the Strade Bianche in 13 editions of the race partly contested on gravel roads in Tuscany. He outclassed his last breakaway companion Jakob Fuglsang from Astana Pro Team in the narrow, uphill San Caterina street before reaching the magnificent Piazza del Campo in Siena. Just like one year ago, cyclo-cross star Wout van Aert, now racing for Team Jumbo-Visma, took third place.
Speaking seconds after the finish, a victorious Julian Alaphilippe said: “This is unbelievable that I win Strade Bianche at my first participation. I was focused all day on the finale. I was lucky to never crash nor have a flat tyre. My team did a great job in protecting me. Jakob Fuglsang was very strong but I made no mistake. However I wasn’t confident in winning until the last corner. This is a wonderful victory.
“My start to the season was already good, with three victories in South America, but to win here is incredible! My team did a great job and having Yves and Zdenek together with me in the final was perfect for us. I had a good day and strong legs, but was also lucky not to have any crashes or punctures. Strade Bianche was my first big goal of the year, and to win here, at my very first presence, is truly amazing.”
Strade Bianche played to Deceuninck-Quick Step’s strength, which had again the numbers inside the last 50 kilometers, when Julian Alaphilippe, Belgian Champion Yves Lampaert and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad victor Zdenek Stybar made the cut over the Martino in Grania dirt road sector, part of a 16-man group. Strangely, it was on Monteaparti, at 800 meters, the shortest gravel segment in the race, that the winning move took shape, when Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) accelerated, being joined only by Julian and Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma).
The trio traded turns until the steep Colle Pinzuto, where the Belgian was dropped, leaving at the front only Alaphilippe and Fuglsang, who traded turns and worked well together, opening a one-minute gap over the main chasing group, where Lampaert and Stybar continued to do a magnificent job in chasing down attacks. Just before Via Esterna di Fontebranda, on the outskirts of Siena, Van Aert bridged to the leading duo, but only for a brief moment, as he was again distanced.
On Via Santa Caterina, the Dane tried to put Julian on the ropes, but Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s pocket-rocket climber responded with ease, before getting out of the saddle and putting in an explosive attack on the 16% gradients, coming round and dispatching his opponent, thus ensuring he would go first into the final corners of the race.
Alaphilippe took his small gap onto the downhill finishing stretch in Piazza del Campo, where he celebrated his fourth victory of the season and delivering another perfect day for Deceuninck – Quick-Step, who placed three more riders in the top 15 – Zdenek Stybar (4th), Yves Lampaert (11th) and Pieter Serry (13th) – and maintained a tight grip on the World Team Classification.
“In every race, others are looking at us to take the responsibility, and that’s what we did today. We were with three riders in the main selection, controlled every move and did a really smart race in all the key moments. When Fuglsang went, I knew that it might be the winning move. He was very strong today, but I made no mistakes and remained confident, although it wasn’t until the final corner that I believed I could win this race, in my opinion, one of the toughest of the calendar. It’s a wonderful victory, one which makes me extremely happy and boosts my confidence ahead of Tirreno-Adriatico”, concluded Julian after netting Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s third win at Strade Bianche.
Final Results:
- Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) 184km in 4h47’14”
- Jakob Fuglsang (Astana Pro Team) at 2”
- Wout Van Aert (Team Jumbo – Visma) at 27”
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