(Paris) French double world champion Julian Alaphilippe will leave Soudal-Quick Step at the end of the season to join Tudor Pro Cycling, the Swiss team announced on Monday.
“After more than ten years with the same team, it was time for a change,” explains Alaphilippe, quoted in the press release from his future team.
His status within the Belgian team had suffered in recent seasons from a sharp decline in performance since his serious fall during the 2022 edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, which earned him severe criticism from sporting director Patrick Lefevere.
“The Tudor Pro Cycling project appealed to me from the beginning. I saw the team arrive and develop, and I also know some of the riders and staff members. What better than a new ambitious project to mark a turning point in my career?” he emphasizes.
The Tudor team, created in 2018, obtained a UCI ProTeam license in 2023, which corresponds to the second highest level of men’s road cycling, after the UCI WorldTeams.
“It’s the biggest change since the start of my career,” underlines the only Frenchman to have won the world championship twice after his titles obtained consecutively in 2020 and 2021.
Alaphilippe started out as a professional in 2013 with the Quick Step reserve team before joining the following year.
“It’s the first time I’ve ridden in another team and I think it’s good to have a change of scenery after so many years. The team makes me want to be part of it,” said the three-time winner of the Flèche Wallone.
“I want to play my role as leader, to guide the youngsters, even if I’m not very old yet,” jokes the 32-year-old rider, recently second in the Clasica San Sebastian behind the Swiss March Hirschi, who will also play for Tudor from 2025.
“Having Julian and Marc Hirschi as two leaders is a stroke of luck,” according to Fabian Cancellara, the boss of Tudor.
“They will take the pressure off each other, but also make each other stronger. Julian brings panache, Marc brings composure. Both can win at the highest level and will embody our racing spirit, which will lead us to take responsibility in some of the biggest races,” sums up the double Olympic time trial champion.