Surviving the time trial and still being in the race lead was remarkable enough for Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep), but by actually winning the stage and increasing his lead over Geraint Thomas (Team Ineos), the Frenchman has confirmed himself as the gift to this year's Tour de France that keeps on giving.
Before the 27.2-kilometre stage 13 around Pau, everyone – including me – was thinking that the Frenchman was a temporary distraction in the battle that would decide the podium places in Paris. Things have now changed, not only for Alaphilippe but for every team that is involved in the GC race.
Up until now, the assumption has been that, come the first major test of form, a Team Ineos rider would be in yellow, or at least be in the position of waiting to take over. All the various tactics, and these include those of rival squads, will have been based on that idea because that's what has happened since 2012, and there have been no circumstances that have challenged the consensus.
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Team Sky before, and Team Ineos now, have been constructed, trained and directed to ensure that the plan is followed right down to the finest details. They take the race lead, ride a tempo that discourages or limits any challenges, and then in the finale – if they feel it's necessary – take a bit more time from the nearest rival to build a bigger buffer. Just in case.
The riders that support the Team Ineos leader aren't known for going in the breaks, attacking halfway through a stage or doing anything other than keeping the race under control, closing gaps or setting a pace that sees everyone struggle. It's a system that works well and it's a system that the other teams have got used to, because they know ultimately that's how the race will be run.
With two Pyrenean days coming up, it will be interesting to see if they stick to that formula and hope that Alaphilippe cracks under the pressure, or whether they change things and try something more aggressive. Stage 14, which features the Col d'Aubisque and the Col du Tourmalet, will answer the first question of whether the race leader can climb with the best GC riders in the really big mountains. That might seem a strange thing to ask of someone who won the mountains jersey the previous year, but Alaphilippe did that by going on the offensive, getting in the breaks and amassing points that way.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/philippa-york-analysis-alaphilippe-has-changed-how-the-tour-de-france-will-be-raced
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