Three stage wins, 14 yellow jerseys and a secondary classification is our team’s rich harvest from this year’s edition.
Another Tour de France is done and dusted, and Deceuninck – Quick-Step can look with pride on what our extraordinary riders and staff have achieved on the biggest race in the world: a hat-trick of stage wins (netted by Julian and Elia), two exceptional weeks in the famous maillot jaune which turned 100 this year and a plethora of dazzling moments that have found their place in the race’s history book.
For three amazing weeks, Julian Alaphilippe created his own myth, one that will reverberate over generations, after igniting a nation’s hopes and keeping them alive, while continuously surpassing everyone’s expectations. The new hero of the French public, Julian lit up the race and was one of the key factors in this edition being widely regarded as the best in decades, thanks to his constant attacking, brace of stage wins, superb spell in the yellow jersey – which he defended with pride and passion – and effervescent personality, all factors that have earned him legions of fans.
“The race has been a marvelous experience, something truly unique. It was my dream to wear the maillot jaune, but to have it for 14 days was simply incredible. The team did a tremendous job riding for me and protecting me, while for my part I fought day after day to prolong this dream in yellow for as long as possible”, an elated Julian said on the Champs-Élysées, where he took to the podium to receive the Super Combatif award.
Fifth in the general classification – best result of a home rider at the 106th edition – Alaphilippe paid tribute also to the feverish crowds who didn’t miss any opportunity to show their love, coming at the team bus and the hotel before and after each stage and decking the roads and climbs of France after being sent into delirium and having their hearts captured by his fantastic exploits.
“The support of the public was superb, I don’t have enough words to tell you what it meant for me to have them chant my name, show their encouragement and support me and the team. I want to thank them for this! I have never imagined this, just as I have never imagined that I would one day finish fifth overall, a beautiful performance and a bonus which rounds out this unforgettable Tour de France”, said Julian, who brought three weeks of joy to his countrymen.
Deceuninck – Quick-Step CEO Patrick Lefevere had only words of praise for the Wolfpack as he expressed his immense happiness after one of the team’s best ever outings in a Grand Tour: “We were one of the top teams of the Tour de France and everybody – riders and staff alike – deserves huge congratulations for their work, passion and winning mentality that took us here! We were prominent every single day and all the guys – Julian, Elia, Max, Kasper, Michael, Dries, Enric and Yves – played an important role in these achievements that won’t be forgotten and rode as a real squad, which is one of the most valuable things that remain after this race.”
Photo credit: ©Justin Setterfield/ Getty Images
