Like Simon Yates, who surprised everyone by announcing his early retirement on Wednesday, Julian Alaphilippe is also 33 and has a successful career behind him. The Frenchman knows his best years, of Monument wins and rainbow jerseys, are perhaps behind him, but he is still hungry and still happy to start a new season.
"I'm clearly nearer the end of my career. I still have two years on my contract, but it's clear that I have less time left. But I still really have a lot of 'grinta'," Alaphilippe said, using the Italian word for grit and determination to highlight his sense of motivation.
