Alaphilippe Wins Tour Of Britain As Brits Battle On

British teams showcase their talents as uncertain future awaits domestic scene. 

- Paul Knott

Barring the chilly September weather, you could be mistaken for thinking it was the middle of July. Quick Step Floors racked up another race victory with Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe continuing where he left off at the Tour de France by taking a single stage and overall honours at the Tour of Britain.

His stage win from a reduced bunch sprint on a breathless stage into Bristol, and a second-place finish behind Sky’s Wout Poels on the summit finish to Whinlatter Pass, were decisive in beating Poels to the overall title by 16 seconds.

Speaking after taking second atop Whinlatter, the Frenchman explained he was willing to gamble it all for the overall win: “It [Whinlatter] was the only moment to make the difference. If I wanted to take the jersey, I had nothing to lose as to finish second, fifth or 25th is the same for me.”

Alaphilippe was paced on the lower half of Whinlatter by team-mate Bob Jungels before an elite group of Alaphilippe, Poels and EF-Education’s Hugh Carthy broke clear of previous race leader Primož Roglič. “Me and Bob are like brothers, he knows me and I know him,” he said. “When he started his effort at the bottom of the climb it was for me to attack to try to take the jersey.”

Alaphilippe’s form makes him a red-hot  favourite for the World Championship road race later this month in Innsbruck. The punchy climbs and tight descents will to be pivotal in dethroning Peter Sagan. “I never imagined before coming here that I would be race leader,” Alaphilippe said. “After this I go to the Tour of Slovakia, and then rest, then I’ll be focused on the Worlds and Il Lombardia.”

While Quick Step Floors’ incredible 2018 winning streak continued and the WorldTour riders in the peloton looked ahead to Innsbruck, many of the domestic teams and riders were looking nervously ahead to a winter of uncertainty.