📸 Gentlemen, can you smile for the camera? Top favorites Alaphilippe and Van der Poel ready for the World Championships
CyclingThursday, 26 September 2024 at 13:59
It was a picture-perfect moment at the airport on Thursday afternoon. Two of cycling’s biggest stars, Julian Alaphilippe and Mathieu van der Poel, crossed paths as they made their way to Zurich for the World Championship road race in just three days. Alaphilippe’s wife, Marion Rousse, snapped a photo of the duo and shared it on Instagram. Both riders are set to compete this Sunday in Switzerland.
Van der Poel is, of course, the reigning world champion. Alaphilippe won the title twice, in 2020 and 2021. The hilly course in Zurich seems tailor-made for both riders, featuring a short, steep climb and a slightly longer ascent. There's a good chance we’ll see both rivals battling it out side by side on Sunday afternoon. As is typical of today’s generation of cyclists, there’s nothing but friendly vibes between the top contenders for now.
Read more below the photo.
"On our way to Zurich!" Rousse captioned the photo, with a rainbow emoji. Her husband Alaphilippe is in the midst of a comeback year. He won a stage in the Giro, recently made his presence felt in the Canadian classics, and has been in fine form all year. Van der Poel, who finished second overall and won a stage in the Tour of Luxembourg, is naturally one of the standout favorites in Switzerland this weekend.
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024