2023-08-05 23:10:12
Par Ethan Daudel
Posted yesterday at 22:26, Updated yesterday at 23:10
Julian Alaphilippe, Valentin Madouas and Christophe Laporte will spearhead the French team for the 2023 worlds. Panoramic
Even if the French selection is far from being the favourite, the team concocted by Thomas Voeckler could still do well with three riders capable of taking on the role of leader.
Thomas Voeckler is used to good results. Since taking office with the Blues in 2019, the former yellow jersey of the Tour de France 2011 has won 6 medals, including two gold. If for the time trial, scheduled for August 11, the coach is aiming for a podium with the French champion of the discipline Rémi Cavagna (Soudal Quick-Step) and the former pink jersey of the Giro Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ) , ambitions for road racing are more moderate. However, the French team hopes to do better than figuration, the tricolor will try to thwart the Belgian armada announced as ultra-favorite.
The headliner of the blues is Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step), double world champion in 2020 and 2021, but as coach Thomas Voeckler revealed: “Alaphilippe will not necessarily be the leader.” As always, France does not put all its eggs in one basket and could, in a race situation, change its tune and bet on another runner. Thus, Julian Alaphilippe, Valentin Madouas and Christophe Laporte will be the spearheads of the French team this Sunday.
Alaphilippe winner in 2020 and 2021
Yet double gold medalist in 2020 and 2021, the Soudal Quick-Step puncher is going through a complicated period. At the front throughout the Tour de France, he never had the legs to win. This Sunday, the native of Saint-Amand-Montrond could go down in history and equal the record held by Peter Sagan and Freire by being crowned world champion for the third time. Well below the other favorites, the Habs will have to model their race on the Belgians, who will control the gaps to hope to change pace in the last difficulty.
Christophe Laporte the best French menu
«Christophe Laporte will be our best card“, these were the words of the boss of the Blues about the vice-world champion. Last year, without making a sound, Laporte crossed the line first behind the untouchable Remco Evenepoel in Wollongong (Australia). In Glasgow, the former Cofidis sprinter could have his day of glory. Author of a discreet but essential Tour de France in his role as a teammate, the Frenchman has shown that he has the “good paw“. The classics, he knows him and his burst of speed can make the difference. This season, the Jumbo-Visma rider has shown the extent of his qualities on the Flanders classics, as evidenced by his victories at Ghent-Wevelgem and across Flanders.
Valentin Madouas, from French champion to world champion?
Initially aligned in the skin of a luxury teammate, Valentin Madouas could take advantage of racing movements to create a surprise. The French champion has already shown the extent of his qualities on the classics with in particular a second place on the Strade Bianche this year and a third place on the Tour of Flanders 2022, in addition, the route and the weather conditions could advantage. For his coach, Madouas is above all a road captain (systematically aligned) since the 2020 Worlds.
The men’s selection for the Road Worlds:
Online test: Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step), Remi Cavagna (Soudal-Quick Step), Benoit Cosnefroy (AG2R-Citroen), Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), Olivier Le Gac (Groupama-FDJ), Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), Florian Senechal (Soudal-Quick Step)
Against the watch : Remi Cavagna (Soudal-Quick Step), Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ)
#Alaphilippe #Madouas #Laporte #France #top