Julian Alaphilipe (Etixx-Quickstep) finished second at the Amgen Tour of California in 2015, but he returns in 2016 with few stated ambitions.
"I don't have GC plans for me," Alaphilippe said. "I'm here for a small break after Classics season. After Liège I do a little break before the rest of the season so it's a little different than last year for me."
Alaphilippe briefly took the GC lead at the Tour of California after winning stage 7 which finished at the top of Mt. Baldy. Alaphilippe lost the GC lead to Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) on the final day of racing by three seconds but finished second overall and went home with the Best Young Rider jersey.
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Alaphilipe signed with Etixx-Quickstep in 2014 and quickly established himself at races like Volta a Catalunya and Tour de L'Ain, then in 2015 he was on the podium of Flèche Wallonne and Liège - Bastogne - Liège. His explosive style of riding after a hard day in the saddle was also evident on stage 3 of the 2015 Tour of California when he narrowly lost a sprint for second to Peter Sagan (Tinkoff). After last year's stage Alaphilipe was visibly excited with his finish.
"I finished right next to Peter Sagan, so I'm not disappointed," Alaphilipe said after the 2015 stage.
Alaphilipe's winter was hampered by a bout of mononucleosis, but he rebounded, finishing sixth at the Amstel Gold race and second at La Flèche Wallonne. After a successful spring he's approaching the Tour of California with a laid back but opportunistic mind set.
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