Share

Sensational Alaphilippe wins time-trial, retains TDF lead

Pau - Julian Alaphilippe extended his overall lead at the Tour de France on Friday winning the 27.2km individual time-trial at Pau on Stage 13 to keep the yellow jersey and send his home fans wild.

Geraint Thomas was second, the defending champion dropping 14 seconds on the French overall leader to slip to 1:26 adrift in the general classification after the race-against-the-clock around the Pyrenean town.

"If he carries on like this he'll win the Tour," the 33-year-old Thomas forecast at the finish line.

The Welshman said Alaphilippe's barnstorming ride had taken him by surprise.

"He's going incredibly well and is certainly the favourite or the one to watch at the moment," he added.

"But there is a long way to go and a lot of hard stages to come."

Sweat was dripping freely from the 2018 champion in the full heat of a baking south-eastern France afternoon. 

"I was overheating a bit, It was that last bit that got me, in the last 8km I didn't have the power I wanted," he admitted.

Alaphilippe has been going from strength to strength this season and said he was taking his responsibility to the French fans very seriously.

"I never set off thinking about pulling off this win. Nobody is more surprised than I am," said the Deceuninck Quick-Step world No 1 who has lit up the Tour with a series of jaw-dropping attacks.

"I just wanted to keep the jersey, but to win the stage, on this form, is just totally amazing," said the 27-year-old former soldier. Friday was the 100th anniversary of the introduction of the yellow jersey, with Eugene Christophe wearing the first in 1919, the Frenchman losing the lead on the penultimate stage.

A hundred years on Alaphilippe is tantalising France with belief growing they can win a first Tour since 1985, when Bernard Hinault clinched his fifth Tour and who was on hand to congratulate the winner on the podium.

After the 80km/h descent outside Pau with the sun making a strobe-like flash effect as it flickered through the trees, the packed holiday weekend crowds went wild as they realised Alaphilippe was keeping pace on the narrow hill roads outside the town.

As Alaphilippe made the 18 percent slope ahead of the home straight the noise was deafening as victory over time-trial specialist Thomas unexpectedly materialised.

Thomas's Ineos co-captain Egan Bernal finished 1:36 off the pace to drop down the rankings and lose his white jersey to Alaphilippe's team-mate Enric Mas, who is now fourth. 

France's Thibaut Pinot lost just 49 seconds and looked relaxed after climbing to second in the overall.

It was also a good day for Steven Kruijswijk now third in the overall after finishing sixth on the day. 

There had been gasps and cries of horror when Belgian rookie Wout van Aert got caught in the barriers and was taken away in an ambulance. Alaphilippe sent him special wishes from the podium.

Saturday's Stage 14 is a short 117km run over two Category 1 mountains with a summit finish at the fearsome classic Tour de France destination the Tourmalet, which some translate as 'bad trip' and which is the highest mountain pass in the Pyrenees.

"It's going to be difficult on the Tourmalet, But I'm not letting this jersey go easily I can promise you that at least," said Alaphilippe.

Pinot and his FDJ manager Marc Madiot have also vowed to fight on the Tourmalet to gain revenge there for getting left behind in the crosswind at Albi.

"There's a rage in him, and when the rage is on him he's good, Saturday we roll," Madiot told AFP this week.

Results from Stage 13 of the Tour de France individual time-trial around Pau on Friday:

1. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA/DEC) 35min 00sec, 2. Geraint Thomas (GBR/INE) at 14secs, 3. Thomas De Gendt (BEL/LOT) 36, 4. Rigoberto Uran (COL/EF1) s.t., 5. Richie Porte (AUS/TRE) 45, 6. Steven Kruijswijk (NED/JUM) s.t., 7. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ) 49, 8. Kasper Asgreen (DEN/DEC) 52, 9. Enric Mas (ESP/DEC) 58, 10. Joey Rosskopf (USA/CCC) 1min 01sec, 11. Nelson Oliveira (POR/MOV) 1:03, 12. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN/AST) 1:07, 13. Bauke Mollema (NED/TRE) 1:09, 14. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 1:11, 15. Emanuel Buchmann (GER/BOR) 1:19, 16. Jan Tratnik (SLO/BAH) s.t., 17. Chad Haga (USA/SUN) 1:22, 18. Nils Politt (GER/KAT) 1:25, 19. Alberto Bettiol (ITA/EF1) 1:26, 20. Mads Schmidt (DEN/KAT) 1:31.

Selected

22. Egan Bernal (COL/INE) 1:36, 24. Mikel Landa (ESP/MOV) 1:45, 26. Fabio Aru (ITA/UAE) 1:49, 28. Nairo Quintana (COL/MOV) 1:51, 33. Daniel Martin (IRL/UAE) 2:06, 34. Adam Yates (GBR/MIT) 2:08, 39. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 2:26, 57. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/BAH) 3:09, 58. Michael Matthews (AUS/SUN) s.t., 59. Maxime Bouet (FRA/ARK) 3:10, 60. Simon Geschke (GER/CCC) 3:11, 61. Warren Barguil (FRA/ARK) 3:13.

Abandoned: Wout van Aert (BEL/JUM)

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1472 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2251 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE