A cry for help: cycling legend Julian Alaphilippe must be better protected

He had started 2024 great and especially in good spirits. The preparation was going well, the results in the Tour Down Under were pretty okay. Eager to emerge from the shadows where he'd lingered the past two seasons, Alaphilippe aimed to reclaim his spot at the forefront of the cycling elite. He was determined to fight for monumental victories and wins against the best cyclists in the world on his favored terrain. This was Alaphilippe's ambition. However, his aspirations hit a snag at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. A missed breakaway. A fall. A lost opportunity. Now, Loulou has to mount a physical comeback. And that while the world does not make it easy for him to recover at his own pace.

The past week was a vivid summary of the situation Alaphilippe is now in. Exaggerated rumors swirling around the Frenchman's personal life and behavior sparked a real scandal in Belgium. Statements by his boss Patrick Lefevere turned out to be taken out of context, as the team manager of Soudal-Quick-Step later explained. The timing of the revelation was not very fortunate, just before the season's opening weekend. Then things also went wrong on the road. Alaphilippe started with good form and high morale, then, misfortune struck on the road: in good shape and with strong morale, Alaphilippe, along with his teammate Kasper Asgreen, crashed mere kilometers before the finish line. Enough reasons for the first media criticisms to flare up again.

And all because the world expects more from the brand Julian Alaphilippe. After Peter Sagan, around 2019 and 2020, Julian Alaphilippe became the new leader of cycling. The most 'all-round' allrounder. The fighter, the man who stood a chance in every race, known for his signature winning smile that was as consistent as his performance. The world now yearns for that Alaphilippe again. Just as his team boss Lefevere has his own way of motivating riders to return to the peak of their abilities. It’s not just the team that's rooting for him; competitors like Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar, and Wout van Aert would all agree that a peak-form Alaphilippe enhances the thrill of the sport. That's how this generation operates, and Alaphilippe is part of this generation. Actually, nobody wants Alaphilippe to falter.

But still. The cycling legend that is Julian Alaphilippe needs better protection. That's a cry for help. There should be no criticism for a while. Not now. His heroic deeds should not be completely overshadowed by a new slice of malaise. Alaphilippe almost won the Tour, while nobody could have suspected that the French Duracell Bunny could compete in the high mountains and time trials with the rest, or even win. Alaphilippe was the best in Imola at the 2020 World Championships, where he outperformed cycling gods Primoz Roglic and Tadej Pogacar. He defended his title in 2021. Van Aert and Van der Poel were there and were defeated. Alaphilippe has often beaten the crème de la crème of his sport. And so the expectation is that he should always be able to.

Sometimes, however, we forget that cyclists are also human and the age-old expectations need to be adjusted. Times change and people do not stay the same either. Even the super athletes of this world are human. They rise, perform grandly, even more grandly, and at some point fall from their pedestal. Without the guarantee that a return to the highest podium is assured. Alaphilippe is certainly not the first cyclist to be in this storm. A living example is Tom Dumoulin. He too proved to be human. By acknowledging the fact that he felt that not everything always goes smoothly. Dumoulin could no longer meet the raised expectations. He didn't want to try anymore. Being human was nicer.

Who knows, perhaps similar thoughts have crossed Alaphilippe's mind over the last two seasons. Maybe he was fed up with everything and tired of it all. The criticism, the diminished status, and above all, the lesser results. It's part of the fall of a top athlete, and it must have gnawed at him. And he might have indulged in one beer too many here and there, or enjoyed one party too many. He likely didn’t do it because he was a worthless professional, but rather because he is human after all, frustrated by the barrage of sporting setbacks, never asked for any of it, and certainly didn't want others to think anything of it.

We shouldn’t underestimate what the spectacular Frenchman has already brought to cycling. We can only cherish the cycling lessons he's provided and hope he comes to deliver some new ones. And we should indeed appreciate the gems of the sport more, even if they are not in their most radiant and sparkling form at the moment. Alaphilippe is just 31. He has many years ahead of him. We can only hope that the real fighter in him returns. The man with the radiant smile, who was a contender in every race. After all, that’s what everyone wants. His team, his rivals, and the fans. Perhaps the cycling world should be kinder to its heroes in such situations.