CyclistI remain grateful for the amazing support I still receive: Julian Alaphilippe Q&ACyclist: Youve had your first season with Tudor Pro Cycling, having joined them after ten years with QuickStep. Has it given you new motivation?Julian Alaphilippe: Maybe just a new appetite because Ive never lost motivation in my career. It was a good time to change direction, to join a project that gives me something extra, to have the privilege of being part of something almost new, a team that wants to grow and go to the top. That means having my role of leader but also giving my experience to the new guys. They are mostly happy to ride for me, but also happy to see me riding for them. That gives me a lot of pleasure because I feel useful.Who were your guides when you were a young rider?Its more about being part of, for example, the leadout train for the big sprinters or helping Micha Kwiatkowski when he was World Champion in the [2015] Lige-Bastogne-Lige and then I finished second. All these moments made me who I am today.Youve won a lot of races Road Race World Championships in 2020 and 2021, six Tour de France stages, Strade Bianche etc but what is the one race that changed your career?When you achieve the biggest goal that you can, which for me was becoming World Champion, its something special that makes you happy. You really realise why you work so hard. But I can also put winning a stage of the Tour and having my first yellow jersey up there. That changed a lot of things.There has been Alaphilippe-mania in the Tour de France for years. Does it make you feel like a rock star?In 2018 and 2019 I was in the polka-dot jersey, then yellow. For two or three years they were special Tours for me. Especially before Covid-19, the public was more present; now we are more blocked off. I was in my best shape and the relationship I had with my results, my feeling on the bike and the people was something I will never forget. I remain grateful for the amazing support I still receive; it gives me goosebumps.Is it always easy to be the centre of attention?Its the complete opposite of who I am. Im a super-simple guy; I dont need anything special. It was harder being in the middle of this when I was going bad, physically and mentally. If I was injured or sick, feeling bad, I was like, I want to be forgotten. And Im still being recognised and people still want to see you winning, especially when you have the rainbow jersey on your shoulders. That contrast was hard. Otherwise you have to turn it into a positive and realise when you stop cycling, all this is over.What kind of racing do you love?I love to race for victory, of course, but I love when there is action and spectacle when its really decided with the legs. I can compare two different types of race: one where the strongest goes at the end with a leadout train on the last mountain who steamroll up it. Its not spectacular. The other, when Pogaar wins Strade Bianche attacking with 120km to go, is crazy and its boring to watch on TV. But still, the performance is amazing.Im between this. I love when everyone can show themselves. I dont like to destroy the competition; I like when its hard, when everyone gives their best and the strongest wins or if not, shows something nice for the people. Because thats cycling. Now cycling is becoming records fastest race, fastest climbs and Im not like that.A.S.O./Billy CeustersYoure a bit old-school, but you ride with a power meter, right?Completely old-school. Yes, I do because its a useful tool, but I can ride without it. My power meter didnt work at the GP de Plouay and maybe I enjoyed the race even more without it.Is this numbers-over-romance approach one of the biggest changes that youve seen in the sport during your career?Exactly, the biggest. After Covid, extraordinary performances became the norm. To win a race now you need to be 120 per cent; you have to do everything crazy-correct; you have to live like a Shaolin monk. Before it was different, you could enjoy yourself and perform with more fun and fewer things to think about. Now its a lot about calculation and executing plans.Youve come closer than most Frenchmen to winning the Tour de France. Do you see there being a male French champion in the next ten years?I hope so. People talk a lot about Paul Seixas. I wish he can achieve this and Id be super-happy for him. But he is 19 years old. The best advice I can give him is to continue enjoying what he does and not be under too much pressure from what people want him to do. He has to do what he wants.How did fatherhood change your approach?Its the biggest change you can have in your life. Its not even comparable to cycling. It changes your vision, your way of thinking, your career. Being a father I discovered what it is to be scared, if my son is in pain or sick. I didnt know that before.The post I remain grateful for the amazing support I still receive: Julian Alaphilippe Q&A appeared first on Cyclist.